Encouragement

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We have must heard this oft repeated phrase a thousand times but it’s true meaning can only be understood by those who live far away from their loved ones in an alien country. The sentimentalism can only be felt in the hearts of those who long to be with their near and dear ones but are inclined to live apart from them.
For some, home is where the hearth is but for me; home is where the heart is and I am sure this feeling predominates in a majority of people.

Whenever I retrace my steps to my homeland for a visit, the feelings of nostalgia just brims over in my heart. It is a strong emotion to which a name cannot be given to, a deep feeling that stems from the sentiments of the yesteryears, a culmination of memories since childhood. To walk on familiar paths and travel around in my city gives me a sense of untold gladness.
Though nothing can compare with the joy of meeting my loved ones face to face, having won over the distance between us; the hours, months and days of waiting having come to an end. It is a forever feeling of joy and hope and I wish time would stop and pause to enjoy these special moments; the feeling of oneness, the sense of belonging, to reach out to each other, to be enveloped in the warmth of our own and be held in the circle of love.

The season of love and meeting has its own extra rich flavor, color, festive atmosphere and an abundance of happiness and joyful moments. Sometimes, without saying any words, a lot can be said and felt. Yet again, the right words have to be said at the right moment. Although, words are left unsaid, the underlying meaning and love is always there.

From the moment, I touch ground and breathe in the homely air until the time I have to return back, I cherish every precious moment spent. This is what I carry back with me. The instant, the flight leaves land and I am in the air, I know that distance has once again set in and I am now far from everyone but never in heart. The heart has its own special closeness formula to reach out to those across the miles. It travels at great speed carrying the love vibes to reach our loved ones. The dividing line is very thin. This love network connects through the barriers of space, bringing love, joy and comfort, thus strengthening relationships.

This is what makes our feet automatically turn back towards our homeland time and yet again, whether for a brief visit or a long stay, just to relish once more, the beauty of home and feel the love of our dear ones.
We will cross the bridge of life only once. During this crossing, we collect the best memories and store them in a special corner of our hearts. It is these sweet memories which comfort and console us in hours of loneliness. We all have our treasure of memories in the special treasury of our minds, to be recalled at all times.

It is these happy memories which makes us smile when we feel the distance across the miles, we also draw strength from these memories in times of trials. When we feel a sense of emptiness we reminisce over the new joyful memories added to our memory bank which keeps repeating itself in our hearts and minds. This is the best way moments can be kept alive like shining stars that illuminate the darkness in our hearts.

I can well presume, how the Israelites felt when they were captured from their homeland; the glorious city of Zion and had to spend years in exile in Babylon. They longed for their return to Jerusalem which they did not forget even for a day. They wept and lamented, pleading God to free them from bondage. Each day spent away from home was an agony to them. They repented of their sins of idolatry and disobedience to the Lord. It was the memories of Jerusalem that kept them going while they waited, trusting in God’s mercy and pardon.

Truly, you can take a person out of a place but you cannot take the place out of the person.
Or for that matter, you can be far away from your loved ones physically but your loved ones will never be far away from your hearts. They always remain an integral part of our lives. We are never really far from home.
Home is definitely where the heart is!

Maria Franco

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