The Long Way Home

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Have you ever taken a trip, missed a turn, and find yourself having to back track? Last winter when my husband was traveling back and forth to his mother’s house working with his siblings to sort through and downsize her stuff before she moved to assisted living, it was decided to sell her vehicle. She wasn’t able to drive anymore and we were casually looking around for another vehicle. As it turned out, we purchased it when we learned the mileage was low and within our budget. (That’s a whole another story which I wrote about earlier this year. 😅)

Now my husband does the driving when we travel 😐. The drive to his mom’s is a route that he can practically drive in his sleep. Since I’m not the one driving I never really paid much attention. Yes I had a general idea having traveled there with my husband in the past. It’s actually fairly simple but if you are like me, it’s easier to learn a route when you are the actual driver. The good thing about my husband when he is driving is that he doesn’t get annoyed with me when I ask him the names of the interstates or back roads that we would sometimes take, pretty much every time I would go with him. He is quick to give me a little background or some long ago memory of the small towns that we pass through when we take the back roads which is pretty neat.

The day we drove up to get the car he quizzed me on the directions and reminding me the names of the interstates that I would be taking. So when I had to drive the car back while he stayed a few more days, I thought I can do this even though I must admit I was a little intimidated. I mean I was making the trip back alone ~ well Lucy was my companion and we all know that dogs are great travel companions 😉~ I sort of knew where I was going and my husband had given me directions. The one thing that he stressed was going east and south. He said as long as I did that I would be good. So, off I went on my return trip home.

About that missed turn. My husband had reminded me about the road splitting before getting onto the interstate I needed. In fact he had even offered to drive to the state line so that I wouldn’t miss it. I told him I had it under control and I would be fine. Well…I was doing pretty good and I knew that the road would be splitting soon so I got in the lane that I needed to be in. Except I forgot and took the wrong split both were pointing me East but one was further north of where I needed to be and while I’m certain I could have stayed on that road I wasn’t familiar with it so I backtracked and got on the correct road. You know what? My husband even called to check on me to make sure I had gotten on the right road! I’m pretty sure I waited to tell him about my side trip after I was headed in the right direction to which he laughed. Thinking back over that time I thought about how we sometimes can get off track in our relationship with the Lord if we aren’t paying attention and how He nudges us back on track.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

These are but a few reminders of how much He loves us. Of how He is watching over us and is there for us if we will only cry out to Him.

He cannot help you unless you let Him. But while He is waiting for you to open the door, He can remind you of His love, and that He is waiting for you. God bless!