Welcome Home

For me, one of the most memorable things about going on a foreign missions trip is coming home to the United States.

I’ve been on two such trips and walking through immigration, immediately after landing in the United States, is truly one of my favorite mission trips moments.

This past Tuesday evening, our plane landed in Miami. My 14 year old son, Nick, and I step off the plane and headed for the immigration desk. We were greeted by a stone face clerk. As he looked over our information, checked to make sure we looked like the photos in the passports, and finally swiped our passports through the little machine, I wondered if he would say the words I was anxiously awaiting. I was not disappointed. Mr. Stone Face’s demeanor changed; he face began to light up. He closed our passport books, reached out to hand them to me, and said the words I was waiting for, “Welcome Home!” It was all I could do to keep from jumping the counter and hugging him. I fought back happy tears as I walked away.

There is just something about those two words that resonates deep inside of me. I wish I could fully explain it but I'm not sure that I even have the words to describe how it makes me feel inside.

Regardless of any challenges that may have been faced in the weeks and months prior to the trip or what difficulties that might have occurred on the trip itself, there is just something about those two little words that makes everything else seem insignificant for a few moments.

More importantly, it makes me reflect on that moment in time when I will stand before my Heavenly Father and anxiously await those words – “Welcome Home!” I don’t have to wonder if he is going to say them, I know he will. He’s not the immigration clerk; he is my Father. I won’t have to fight back the urge to hug him. I will be welcomed with his embrace. All the pain, the challenges, difficulties, and struggles of this life will be no longer be significant; not just for a moment but for eternity.