Home & God

Joe was recently reflecting on the meaning of “home.” From the end of 5^th grade until the early 1960s when he married Jane, “home” was a different location almost every year. Most of the time the transitions were last minute and he didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to the friends he was leaving behind. He had to decide at an early age that “home” was “wherever I am.”

Joe’s first major transition came at the end of 5^th grade when an uncle told Joe his parents were divorcing and he was moving from Michigan to Indiana. Not long after that he was informed he was going to Howe Military School and not living with his Grandparents Todd as he thought. That was a lot for a young boy to process all at once. “I was crushed,” said Joe. His beloved Mamaw (Elizabeth Gilmore Neely) helped him with all these changes. Joe tells the story.

Mamaw (Elizabeth Gilmore Neely) who I was very close to said to me when I was about to be sent off to Howe Military School - "Home is wherever you are and you'll never be alone because God will always be with you as long as you are with Him." Mamaw went on to say, "When you're scared, look over the doorway of a room before you enter and see the word ‘God’ and He will be there with you.” I have remembered that ever since.

Joe continues - Yes, the support of family and friends are important to "home" - but down to basics, it's Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who are your real friends to begin with, who will always be your home. The closer you are to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the closer they are to you - no matter what else is going on around you - disaster or whatever. It is with them that the reality of real love begins as you keep traveling on the gospel path back home to live with them eternally along with your earthly family and friends. -  So - home is wherever you are on the way back to your eternal home. 

picture - The picture shows a sad Joe in August 1940 on his doorstep in Indianapolis. He isn't happy about the family's upcoming move to Grosse Pointe, Michigan. 

Read other thoughts about home here and here.

note: March 29, 2014 - edited to correct date & place of 1940 picture of Joe