Russell Media - Laurie

Last week was our kids’ Spring Break so, Mark and I took the week off and we all headed to Disneyland. Now to some this may sound more like torture than a vacation – especially when you consider that we drove there from Boise, ID (Yep…15 hours in the car each way!) But it was a great time.

I love Disney – it is the land of adventure but it’s also the land of meltdowns for both parent and child. Thousands of people corralled through a handful of entry points who then walk miles, only to wait in line for hours (in all kinds of weather), for a 30 second ride.

Expectations are high. Kids are over excited. All it takes is one little kink for one’s patience to implode and we’re over reacting and saying things we don’t really mean.

Talk about highs and lows of emotions.

Space Mountain was our kids’ favorite roller coaster and we rode it numerous times. On one occasion we were loaded up in our seats, ready to go when one of the workers casually stepped in front of our train and pulled us to another track and behind a curtain.

Initially we were all making jokes with other passengers but internally I was irritated. The ride before Mark and Noah had been stuck on another roller coaster for 40 minutes. It seemed like we were spending a lot of our time dealing with broken machinery.

Moments later another car pulled up next to us. It was a family of 4. In the front seat were the son and his mother. She was gray and unconscious. It was scary and emotional. Praise God she was okay but for a moment we were unsure.

Later that day Mark and I talked about how impressed we were with the Disney staff and the way they handled the situation. There was potential for panic to arise in a small area filled with hundreds of people. The staff remained calm and only a handful of people were aware of the medical emergency that took place.

The Disney employees knew what to do and immediately worked as a team to help this family in need. They were young and handling a situation most twenty-year-olds never face. They obviously had been trained well by Disney in what to do in this circumstance.

There are times when my daily life is interrupted and my reaction is not the best. I dramatize it only to regret it later. Many times this is due to my spirit not being properly trained or prepared for the day. When I neglect the time and focus needed to condition my heart to handle the trials of life, my response is often not glorifying to God.

But, when my heart is prepared with prayer and time communing with God, I have a peace that transcends all understanding. In the midst of chaos, there is an unexplainable calmness enabling me to meet the need at hand.

How do you find peace in the midst of the stress of life?

Do you have any stories of see God’s peace in the midst of trial?

My husband, Mark, worked in microfinance a couple years ago. Periodically he’d be gone for a couple weeks at a time, traveling to countries on the other side of the world. This seemed like eternity, especially to our children. They love their daddy and his absence was torture to their hearts.

The homecomings were awesome. The kids helped clean the house and made sure I was planning a big meal for Mark. When it was time to head to the airport Anastasia would put on her prettiest outfit and Noah his coolest shirt. They wanted his homecoming to be special.

At the airport we’d wait outside of security, looking through the glass doors and randomly check the status of his flight. The minute they saw Mark walk around the corner a surge of excitement rushed through their bodies, causing involuntary jumping up and down. The automatic doors opened wide and Mark’s spread arms were soon filled with two children eager to see their Daddy.

Homecomings are priceless. They remind the weary traveler that they are loved and were missed.

God also loves a good homecoming and gave us a few glimpses in the Bible on how He welcomes His children home.

The prophet Elijah wholeheartedly served God. When it was time for him to pass into the next life, the Lord sent a flaming chariot and fiery horses to usher him into heaven (II Kings 2). He sent nothing but the best for His faithful servant.

I think my favorite homecoming in the Bible is Stephen’s (Acts 7). False accusations were made against him and he goes on trial before the priests.  At the end of his testimony he looks toward heaven and here we read…

“He looked towards heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God.’” Acts 7:55,56

Death was near for Stephen but God and Jesus were looking on - he was not alone. Often we read of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, but here He is standing. Is He standing here as if to honor Stephen and his faithfulness? I may be wrong but it seems that way to me.

This blows me away. I can’t imagine doing anything that would bring the Lord to His feet - unless of course it was something requiring discipline. It gives me goose bumps and challenges me to live a life that draws God’s glorious attention and one that will bring Him to His feet as He welcomes me home.

Do you have good homecoming stories?

How do you see or interpret the homecomings God throws in these two instances?