This thought comes to mind every time I travel to visit family and friends: I don't like good-byes. I am always so eager to see the folks at the other end of the trip, but when it comes to leaving my loved ones at home, I hate to part. While I feel immersed in love with the folks I'm visiting, my heart aches for the ones I left back at home. When I turn my face back toward home, I'm so happy to ease my homesickness, but I immediately ache to stay with those I am leaving. I want to have all of the folks I love in one place. I don't want to say good-bye and to miss you. That whole absense makes the heart grow fonder idea is over-rated.
My vision of heaven is where I will always be surrounded by those I love. Sure, you can roam about as you will and won't be chained to me, but I never want to be far from you. I want to be at your side without the time and distance of travel. I want to see my darling grandchildren whenever we wish it. I want to chat face to face with my kids without buying plane tickets. I want to talk about music with a beloved friend without having to send a text or squeeze in a quick hour when we wish we could talk all day. I don't want to dread the day when my best friend will move, and I will remain behind. I want to spend forever with my husband at my side and surrounded by all of our loving family and friends. I want it all so much, that I think about my heaven every day.
Make no mistake, I'm not suggesting that I am in a hurry to change my residence from earth to heaven just yet. For now, and for many more years to come, I will settle for my pieces of heaven, and I will travel back and forth between them. It is good to know that when I leave one place on the map, I can anticipate joy at each end of the long car ride or airplane flight where another group of folks waits to welcome me. But some day, I want each of you to have a home on my block. To never have to miss you will be happiness forever for me.
