~~11 years~~
11 years ago our daughter-in-law from Vietnam began the process to come here as the wife of our son. It took over 5 years and countless trips to the capitol city of Ho Chi Minh, to answer questions and be interviewed about their paperwork, before her Visa was finally approved to come here. We rejoiced that her Green Card was finally issued then.
And now 6 years later, she finally passed all of the tests to become a US citizen. Today they went to the courthouse in Chicago for the swearing-in ceremony! And my heart is full to overflowing with Gratitude.
And now 6 years later, she finally passed all of the tests to become a US citizen. Today they went to the courthouse in Chicago for the swearing-in ceremony! And my heart is full to overflowing with Gratitude.
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:8 NIV
During the years before she was able to come to America, my heart learned about waiting and praying and crying, as our hopes were dashed time and again. But always, the Lord whispered in my heart,
"Don't give up. She will join your family one day. She will make her home there, across the ocean."
And as the days turned into years of waiting, I glimpsed the heart of my Lord in a way I had not seen before. As I waited, I knew that He waits also.
But not for a country on this earth. No, He is waiting for the day that we will join HIM there, in our true home in Heaven.
This earth was never meant to be our final home. There are days we live as if we are tied to these houses and ways and things, forgetting that all of this will pass away. And the Child who came to be with us on that very first Christmas, came to make the way opened for us to someday join Him in our true home. We were created for more than this.
Heaven is our true home.
Jesus paid the way
and bought our
redemption
to
make our hearts
washed clean
ready for Heaven's
pure air.
During the years before she was able to come to America, my heart learned about waiting and praying and crying, as our hopes were dashed time and again. But always, the Lord whispered in my heart,
"Don't give up. She will join your family one day. She will make her home there, across the ocean."
And as the days turned into years of waiting, I glimpsed the heart of my Lord in a way I had not seen before. As I waited, I knew that He waits also.
But not for a country on this earth. No, He is waiting for the day that we will join HIM there, in our true home in Heaven.
This earth was never meant to be our final home. There are days we live as if we are tied to these houses and ways and things, forgetting that all of this will pass away. And the Child who came to be with us on that very first Christmas, came to make the way opened for us to someday join Him in our true home. We were created for more than this.
Heaven is our true home.
Jesus paid the way
and bought our
redemption
to
make our hearts
washed clean
ready for Heaven's
pure air.
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ"
Philippians 3:20
We have been blessed with
families
here on this earth
to paint a picture
for us
of the larger
Family of God
into which
He invites each one.
And for all of you who have had a part in praying for our son and daughter-in-law over those years, YOU have a part in this family's gratefulness today!
This Christmas Season I am honored to be a part of the writing that Ifeoma Samuel is sharing on her blog
Purposeful and Meaningful
Please come visit us there, beginning December 1st
for daily short devotionals that will lift our eyes to the beauty of Jesus' coming to earth!
We have been blessed with
families
here on this earth
to paint a picture
for us
of the larger
Family of God
into which
He invites each one.
And for all of you who have had a part in praying for our son and daughter-in-law over those years, YOU have a part in this family's gratefulness today!
This Christmas Season I am honored to be a part of the writing that Ifeoma Samuel is sharing on her blog
Purposeful and Meaningful
Please come visit us there, beginning December 1st
for daily short devotionals that will lift our eyes to the beauty of Jesus' coming to earth!
Congratulations to your daughter in law! It's insane how lengthy and difficult it is for legitimate people to become citizens.
ReplyDeleteThank you Melissa! Yes, it has been such a long journey, but worth every step. My son said there were 111 other people there becoming citizens at the same time. Now I think that's good news! Blessings to you!
DeletePraise God for His faithfulness through such a long journey. He sure does grow our hearts in the waiting, doesn't He? Oh how my heart yearns with yours for all made whole and One in our true home Thank you for encouraging us in God's great love for His children, His family.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Anna, thank you so much for all of your prayers! He is so good to continue to point us to our true Home, through so many steps along the way. And yes, this waiting becomes so precious when we see HIM growing our hearts here. Much Love and Hugs to you to my dear friend!
DeleteI rejoice with you all, Bettie. Thank You, God! It must have been quite a lesson about waiting for His time and way. I long for the day when our waiting will be over and we may join HIM in our true home in heaven! Thank you for the encouraging reminder of Philippians 3:20 - "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Love and hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteDear Trudy,
DeleteThank you for joining in with our rejoicing! Oh my heart echoes that cry along with you, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" I am so thankful that this verse was an encouragement to you today--won't it be a joy when we can be together with Him there, in our Forever Home? Love and Hugs to you! xo
Oh how our hearts ache in the waiting! But what lessons we learn as we throw ourselves, our hopes, dreams and desires into the merciful arms of God. His compassion for the lost, alien and fatherless helps to create a greater urgency to our prayers. I am delighted to hear the good news about your daughter-in-law's US citizenship finally being given! What a great gift so close to Christmas. Bettie, I love your description of how our souls long for the citizenship we have in heaven, knowing it is our wonderful, forever Home with God. Thank you for this lovely, uplifting, encouraging post. Love and hugs! xoxo
ReplyDeleteDear Joy,
DeleteOh I am so thankful for your friendship in these days of waiting here now. We continue to "throw our hopes, dreams and desires into the merciful arms of God" through these weary days too. And then when He surprises us with a blessing such as He did our family this week, we marvel at the good gifts He miraculously brings! Doesn't that just cause the hope in our hearts to increase for those longings of Heaven? He is so very near to us! Blessings, love, and hugs to you dear friend! xoxo
Oh, praise God! I am so thankful your dear daughter-in-law is now in the US and can finally be here with you all! OH, His timing is so hard to understand sometimes, and hope deferred surely does make the heart sick. But, when the answer to prayer finally comes, what a tree of life it is to us! God bless you and your precious family, sweet friend. I am praying for you!
ReplyDeleteDear Cheryl,
DeleteOh you are so right, that we feel so sick and hurting when we see our hopes deferred again & again. But yes, what a glorious "tree of life" His answer becomes as we have placed our trust in HIM! Thank you so much for all of your rejoicing with our family, and for your prayers as well, sweet friend! Blessings, love and hugs to you!