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Mississippi
Brenda, Retired Military Spouse

I always have a home in the Lord, no matter where my stuff is...

I am the wife of a retired military man so I HAVE MOVED!  When I heard Susan’s broadcast this morning [on Focus on the Family radio, July 22 and 23, 2008] I started looking for a way to share.  Since I’m older I have lots of moving stories but a couple in particular that God used in ministering to me.

In my first experience in moving overseas, one day after everything was packed up and we were staying in temporary quarters the thought occurred to me: we have no home.  I don’t remember if it was right away or in my devotions the next morning but God led me to this verse in Psalm 90:1, “You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.”  I then realized I always have a home in the Lord no matter where my stuff is.  I was able to share that with my husband either on our way across the states to fly out or after we got to Guam and again were in temporary quarters when he said, “We don’t have a home.”  And I said, “Oh, yes we do.”

When we returned from that overseas tour and were stationed in Colorado.  I was unpacking and so lonely.  The kids were in school and my husband at work so I unpacked and cried.  Even missed my little cat following me around that we had given away rather than try to bring back.  It was during that move that the Lord helped me to realize that it was a grieving process I had to go through.  Because just like when we are mourning and missing someone who has died - when we move we leave behind, friends (whole church families that have become OUR family), familiar surroundings, etc.  After that I could deal with it easier because I allowed myself to grieve and understood that it had to happen. 

Thank you so much for your ministry.  I have a heart for military families in particular.  I purchased your book, After the Boxes are Unpacked, for my daughter-in-love who is married to my military son and has made a few moves already.  She is very close to her family here in South Mississippi and had never been away for any extended amount of time.  They are now stationed in Germany and she struggles with being so very far away.