Real Hope: Redeeming HomeSample

New Home

A couple of years ago, I got married and moved to a new home in a new region. Having spent my whole life in Sydney, moving two hours away was a big move for my heart because this wasn’t just moving from my apartment to a new house, it was moving away from home. It was moving away from the people who made it home for me — my friends and family. And while I knew I wouldn’t disconnect from my Sydney home, I needed to make a local home.

It’s taken a while, but Newcastle is home now. Our family has made some great local friends that are becoming family. People who we share meals and life and heartaches and joy with. People who welcome us into their lives. Because that’s what our earthly home is; it’s the people you do life with. The people who champion you, weep with you, and rejoice with you. The people who lift you when you fall. People who love you for who you are.

Everyone needs a home, a place where they belong. Today, more than ever, there are a lot of lonely people with no hope, community or connection. But we can open our hearts and be home to others. As followers of Jesus, we can show people a glimpse of our heavenly home by loving the lonely, marginalized, and hurting. We can imitate Jesus by sharing a meal with those in the community that society looks past. We can invite people into our homes. We can be a listening ear. An encourager. We can be the hands and feet of Jesus and love them. As we await our heavenly home with Christ, may we open our earthly homes to others and, by God’s grace, lead them to the ultimate home with Jesus.

Written by LEILA ARMSTRONG