A Place Called Home

A Place Called Home

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20

My daughter Leslie, now in her twenties, had planned to spend a year in the Czech Republic doing mission work. While leaving her parents was hard on her, even harder was leaving her younger brothers and sisters. A year is a long time for anyone, but it’s especially long in the life of a toddler. And while we approved of Leslie’s decision, parenting is much harder when a young person leaves and his or her parents don’t agree with that decision. This is especially true for those young adults who choose to leave the Amish faith. As you can imagine, this grips Amish parents’ hearts with fear, not only because they are losing one of their children but also because many other sets of eyes are watching every step, every choice. Here is part of a letter an Amish parent wrote to his child:

Now that you are grown up, think of those little feet that follow yours, your little brothers and sisters. . . . How can we tell them why you’ve gone away? How can we explain so they will understand, that you have gone of your own free will? You turned your back on all you once held dear. Your chair is empty at the far end of the table, and no one can take your place.

Sometime there well may come a day when the enthusiasm of your newfound life will wear away. Perhaps the day will come when all this glitter will vanish from your life. Then you may see your highest hopes were nothing, and all the things you sought were vain. . . . Don’t be afraid to turn your steps and come on home.

Wherever older siblings go in life, their leaving will have an impact on younger brothers and sisters. There will be times in our lives when we personally don’t approve of the choices family members make, but like the father in the letter above, we must let them know that we will always be there with arms open wide on their return, just as our heavenly Father waits and watches for us to come to Him.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for always being available to me and reaching out with open arms.