Lessons from Jamaica...Part III

Yah, mon, it's another blog post about Jamaica. I'm not sure when I'll run out of great stories to share. I think that my husband would agree that our Jamaican experiences have shaped us into the people we are today.

So here goes, for the third post in a series of ???

Fifteen years ago, our kids were ten and six when we spent one of our family vacations in Jamaica. That year, we gave them one of a pair of two-way radios, and they had great fun walking the gardens, feeding the turtles, and talking to Bo Bo, the noisy parrot. They were safe, we could keep in contact, and most importantly, they were entertained. But every day, their favorite request was, "Can we go see Hopelynn?"  Hopelynn (pronounced with the "H" silent) was working at the hotel and we spent lots of time talking with her and learning about her and life in Jamaica. Lorie and Barry bonded with Hopelynn, and so did we. Our friendship has lasted over the years and she comes to see us whenever we are in Jamaica.

Back in January, I posted a wintery picture on Hopelynn's Facebook wall, begging her to send us some warm Jamaican sunshine. Her response, "come home guys to your second home."

"Come home guys to your second home."

Ah, what great words. Jamaica does, indeed, seem like the place we belong. Especially in winter. Especially after receiving near record amounts of snowfall. Especially in the midst of unending, overcast, deary days in Michigan. And even though we have lived in Michigan all our lives, sometimes we seem like strangers in a foreign land. We feel that we were made for somewhere other than this place.

As a Christian, I'm reminded that I am, indeed, a stranger here. This is my temporary home, and by faith, I live looking forward to my real and permanent home.

From Hebrews 11 (Living Bible):

13 These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. 14 And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven.

15 If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. 16 But they didn’t want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them.

Thanks, Hopelynn, for the invitation and the reminder. We love you!