Waiting for home (Family Favorites Week, Part III)
April 16, 2009
A father seldom thinks things through before asking his children what they want for their birthday. He just says it. He thinks their answer will be an easy one. A new doll, maybe. Or the latest action figure. But what he does not consider is that their answer may be something utterly different and much more difficult than having to run to the store the next day and plop something down in front of a cashier.
I learned all this over the weekend. “What do you want for your birthday?” I asked my daughter. Her reply?
“A sleepover!”
So. My wife and I played host to three six-year-old girls last night. Having such young children sleeping at your house and away from theirs for the first time was something for which I admit I was not prepared. For the screaming and yelling, yes. And the mess, absolutely. I was even prepared for the dent that some tiny body part knocked into the living room wall.
But I was not prepared for Curly Sue. Not one bit.
Susan was her given name. But the dark brown locks of hair that adorned her head demanded a temporary nickname. Curly Sue had never spent more than a few hours away from her parents. The likelihood of her actually staying the entire night was slim. But she was determined. Curly Sue stepped through our front door with a pillow, a sleeping bag, and a knapsack full of toys. She was there to stay.
All went well that evening. Until bedtime, that is. Then things began the sort of downward spiral that can happen when you have a house full of little girls.
It started with goodnight prayers. Girls in a circle, taking turns praying for mommy and daddy and for God to make their stomachs quit hurting from all the popcorn. When it came time for Curly Sue’s contribution, though, there was only silence.“Do you want to pray, Susan?” asked my wife.
A tiny nod.
“Okay, go ahead.”
More silence. Then, five words: “God, I wanna go home.”
Uh-oh.
Four phone calls to her mother later, and Curly Sue decided to be strong and stick it out. She didn’t want to leave her friends, but she didn’t want to stay, either. Could everyone go with her back to her house? she asked.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t having fun. Curly Sue said she was having much fun. She loved our home and having her friends around, and she really loved all the popcorn. And there was so much to do! But as much as she was enjoying herself and her surroundings, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t where she should be.
“It’s just not home,” she told me.
The girls were asleep by eleven. By one, Curly Sue had appeared at our bedside twice. “I wanna go home,” she said. Both times.
Instinct woke me at six thirty when I rolled over and found no one beside me. I got out of bed and walked into the living room in search of my wife. I found her and Curly Sue in the rocking chair by the window, gazing out into the evaporating night.
“Just wait a bit,” my wife was telling her. “The sun’s coming, you just wait and see. And when the sun comes, it’ll be time to go home.”
Curly Sue smiled. Me, too.
Because I, too, am a little visitor in a big place, and I miss home.
Oh, it’s wonderful here. Beautiful. I have fun, I’m around people I love, and there’s so much to do.
But it’s just not home. No, my home is somewhere else. Somewhere on the other side of this life. Somewhere perfect.
Like her, I’m torn. I want to go home, but I don’t want to leave anyone here, either. I want everyone to come with me so we can all have fun.Some days, many days, I like it here. But there are days when the weariness of this world weighs on me. When I long for the day when laughter won’t be so fleeting and hope won’t be so hard to find.
Those are the days when I seem to sit by some unknown window and gaze out, trying to will the darkness to fade and the light to shine.
Because I know that when the Son comes, I can go home.
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32 Responses to “Waiting for home (Family Favorites Week, Part III)”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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BC~Susan is the cutest!
It’s funny, I get that same scary feeling sometimes as an adult when doing something new. Except, as an adult, sometimes I don’t have my parents there to call four times and a kind mother figure to rock me until the sun comes up.
I wish I could remember those days I was brave. Slept without a nightlight, dove from the “high” diving board, started a new school. . .someone was with me. The Creator and my father. . . He still is. . . and I’ll see Him when the Son comes up.
You are brilliant. I loved this
Billy
Again, a beautifully written post that resonates with me. I often feel that ache…life can be really good and things can feel perfect, but out of the blue I can just stand there, longing.
You really bless me !
This is another well written masterpiece, complete with that nice pic! Thank you for a great reminder of what awaits us, bro. Billy. God bless you…You continue to bless us every time you post something. Doesn’t matter if it’s an old or new post. Thank you.
Billy,
This is beautiful. The imperfect world we live in is definitely not our home! I am reminded of that every time I watch the news…or MTV.
We haven’t branched out into the world of sleepovers yet. You are a brave soul to have that many giggly, moody little ladies in your house at one time!
What a beutiful picture you have painted.
I want to go home too…and take everyone with me.
Wow. That blessed me.
I’m even more glad that you’re posting these special selections.
Billy I really loved this one.
I’ve had a longing to go home lately! This place has not at all felt like a place I belong. The Son will come some day, yes!
When I was a girl I remember my mom sitting with one of my friends into the wee hours who lived just across the way, the problem was it was about 40 below zero,( my birthday is in January and we lived in Alaska.) This story reminded me of that chilly night and my sweet mom, thanks, you have a gift!
In Him,
Tina
Oh, Mr. Coffey!
That was fantastic. And with your permission, I would love to read this story to the friend I went to visit today.
Perhaps it’s because I’m not at home tonight and won’t be for a few days. I hate being away. As such sleep eludes me.
I have been Curly Sue many times. I feel like her tonight.
Thank you for your beautiful words tonight (err, this morning…)
AMEN! This is a humorous, yet touching post. Your gift of writing is awesome!
I confess, I was chuckling a little at your expense. The picture in my mind of you – surrounded by little girls. It is sort of like my situation, in reverse. The boys have had hordes of guys in our home over the years. I end up swimming in testosterone!
Oh, but it’s worth every aggravation, every tear, every dent in the wall, isn’t it?! To have those memories with our children is priceless. They grow up WAY too fast. Hold on to every moment, Billy!
)
Have a great weekend…
Beth E.
katdish- permission absolutely granted.
This post made me extra happy especially after my recent SL&L post Scoreboard about home. Thank you for putting words to our ache and for sharing the hope of home!
I so relate to this whole scene. I have a daughter who's had sleepovers both here and at friends. And I've answered the dreaded "I want to come home" phone call and drove at 10:30 to pick Hannah up. My heart couldn't stand her tears and fears. I rescued her so we both could get some sleep.:)
So glad I've found your blog. It's a gift to my heart.
Bill – this is great! I wasn’t sure where you were going with it (another fatherly story about family life?) but boy, you really pulled it together at the end. Although my girls are older now (but the sleepovers persist), even I can relate to you and Curly Sue.
Blessed again …
OH yes. I remember this one. VERY good!
Billy,
This is absolutely beautiful. Curly Sue sounded like an angel. What a beautiful analogy of our hearts longing to all be one Big Family, WITH Papa Jesus Holy Spirit in every sense (physically, spiritually, etc).
I am sooo very much looking forward to Home, too.
Thank you for posting this.
Blessings,
~Amy
Blessed as much this time as I was the first time I read this post.
I can’t wait for the Son to come back for me!
I wanna go home too!
beautiful…. Joy comes in the morning! I am looking forward to that beautiful morning!
Tamela
Thank you for sharing this again. I remember when I read it brand new. It was so inspiring then and continues to be so now. Hope you are having a wonderful break this week!
Amazingly good story and object lesson. Wonderful. Wow.
Oh, that my heart will always long for home and the sweet joy that will come in the morning! I have enjoyed my first visit to your blog. Looking forward to returning soon. You have brought a sweetness to my morning.
Shalom,
Denise
Another good ‘un.
Billy,
My wife read this and said, “That’s very good. I can see a mom doing that.” That’s b/c she has, several times (we have 2 girls).
I’ve felt the “tug” this week more profoundly; I have a few guesses as to why. I think it has something to do with the passage of time and watching the uncertainty of certain change merge into my heart in an unexpected way. It’s been a painful process and yet one that leaves me longing for a sense of permanent roots and holdings to a soil that never shifts.
A place I’ve yet to arrive, yet a place I visit more often these days.
I love your thoughts along these lines.
On another note, this piece also reminded me about a “sleep over” I attended at age 6. Like Curly Sue I longed to go home, and I did…my parents have the before/after pictures to prove it.
peace~elaine
Amen, Billy.
When the Son comes, I’m going home, too. Some days I can hardly wait. I scan the horizon, hoping…
Wonderful post.
Billy,
Thank you for visiting my site today. You are a very talented writer. God bless you!
I can totally relate to little Curly Sue. I so long to go home! I too feel out of sort on this planet. I too want to leave; just not leave anyone behind.
God has created such a beautiful place here on this earth; I can only imagine what Heaven will hold for us.
Thank you dear brother in Christ for sharing this beautiful story!
Many blessings,
Bren
I remember this one. It was one of the 1st ones when I started reading your blog. So great! Thanks for the reminder.
Billy,
What an awesome post!
All I can say is AMEN! I can relate and understand every word you shared. Being a Mom of 8 with 2 girls 6 & 7 I know those emotions too – very well.
I appreciate seeing a side of man many don't show – the understanding of your wife sitting in that chair calming the fears of a child not her own – yet completely His! What a perfect picture of His love for us -always caring for us no matter what!!!
Daddy come on back to get us – we miss you and long for the day to be with you all of the time! No more tears, pain, sorrow, sickness and laughter and joy will rule our hearts!
Blessings to you!
Jill
That was so awesome of a post! I don’t know what else to say. Thanks for blessing me!
Sarah
Eh…so-so…
(Thought I’d mix it up a bit. You’re welcome.)
Okay, people – I’m kidding. Don’t be hatin’ on me!
Reading that makes me weepy. I’ve too spent many nights waiting anxiously for the Son.