Home, Sweet, Home

We had such a good trip home-thank you so much for praying!

They told us the flight was going to be so full; however, we ended up with 2 extra seats next to us!      So then we were able to have a space for both Iana and Elsa to lay down.

On the flight over, Iana only slept 1.5 hours.    However, she fell asleep for 6 hours, and Elsa for 8.   We ended up waking them up for breakfast because we were concerned they wouldn't be tired after we landed!

Wow, what a blessing to be concerned they would sleep too long!     That usually happens to other people's children-not mine!  LOL

Elsa really  liked the music on the headphones...she was all smiles.

We are so glad to be back, and so thankful to live in the U.S....clear skies, edible food, drinkable water, among other blessings.   :)

***

When we landed at LAX, we were held in a dreary sort of room for about 30 minutes while they reviewed Elsa's paperwork...to make sure we could bring her into America.

There was a pretty woman also in there.  She was well-dressed with very nice thick, dark hair; she was probably in her 40's.   She was from Guadalajara.    I asked her what she was in for, and she said she had been there since 11 a.m. (it was then about 7 pm) and she had no idea why she was being held.   She comes and goes from the U.S. often.

She had brought her oldest daughter, who had gotten ill, sitting in that room without any food for so long.  Her daughter had gotten sick from seafood a couple months ago, so the combination made her sick.  They took the daughter to the hospital, but made the Mom stay there, much to her dismay.

While we were waiting, they finally told the Mom why she was being held (8 hours later).  Her daughter had gone to a summer program in the States- which was considered a high-school program and she wasn't supposed to return so soon.   The Mom said it was a mis-understanding...that it was just a summer program but it didn't matter..they had to return home. 

They had to go back once the daughter was back from the hospital-which was going to be a while.

The Mom was very distraught.   She said she didn't understand why they would treat her like this...captive in a little room with  no explanation.  She traveled to and from the U.S. often.   She spent her money in the U.S.   She was coming with her daughter to spend time with some good U.S. friends.   Why would they treat her like this?

I felt very bad for her.   The folks there weren't so friendly, and the room wasn't either.    I tried to encourage her...told her this would pass eventually, she would get through it, and I would pray for her.

She was on my heart all the way home.   My last glance at her, she was sitting with her arms resting on her knees, head down, crying.

I realized that they wouldn't keep a U.S. citizen in such a situation...and no matter how comfortable she is with her relationship with the U.S...the reality is -she is not a citizen.   She doesn't have the rights of a citizen..and that's why she was stuck in that dreary room.  

And it reminded me of the story from Matthew 22...a parable of a king that had a wedding feast for his son.

"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good.  And the wedding hall was filled with guests.  

But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?'  And he was speechless.

Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.   For many are called, but few are chosen."

The sweet woman from Guadalajara wept, she was so sad because she was stuck in the shabby room and not allowed into the U.S.   

However, her situation is nothing compared to the grief that folks will have when they come to the realization that they do not have their Heavenly citizenship on that day.    

As much as I am so very thankful to have my U.S. citizenship- our heavenly citizenship is worth far, far more.

And the alternative...well the alternative to heavenly citizenship is much worse than a shabby room, without food, surrounded by crabby people.

What a beautiful city we have to look forward to...no crime..no pain..no pollution.   

All our invited.  Any immigrant is welcome.     

No fees...no gimmicks...the price is paid for by the King.  We just have to say yes to His adoption plan...His plan of redemption.

Unlike the power-seeking earthly leaders...

He is a wonderful Father, a sweet, beautiful, self-sacrificing King.

"Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away....

And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.   The city had not need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.   The Lamb is its light.

And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.  But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

(from Revelations 21)

And that is truly...

Home, Sweet, Home.