“What did you want to be when you were a kid?”
A great question asked of me the other day by a twelve year old desiring to study astrophysics or something close reserved for the genius club when he grew up.
His inquisitive young mind intrigued me and drew me back into my childhood when I too dreamed of my “grown up” self.
I began with “back in the old days” referring to a TV series titled The Walton’s airing in the 1970’s, a century this “youngin” wasn’t even born in. The Walton family depicted in the depression era whose home was built in rural Virginia overlooking Walton’s Mountain, featured an aspiring novelist named John Boy, whose life and ambitions to author books stirred that gift already in me to write.
Each episode ended at night in front of a darkened house while the family slept, panning to an open window whose curtains slightly danced to the evening breeze.
John Boy still awake at his dimly lit desk penning in his journal, entries narrated and accompanied by the music of Virginia’s mountains, for which I hung onto every word.
The answer to this twelve year old’s question,
“What did you want to be when you were a kid?”
I replied to his question, “I longed to be an author like John Boy Walton.”
Remembering I was conversing with Einstein’s distant relative, I made a feeble attempt to paint myself somewhat smart with my former career as a software developer for steel mills and gas companies and a second limited career as a paralegal in my grown up life.
Not that anyone needs to defend their careers, or dreams and desires of their younger self, I found myself doing so with a twelve year old soon-to-be scientist, already successful in his robotic endeavors.
Our conversation ended as quickly as it started, with him joining a game of tag with his cousins.
This lad reminded me our dreams can be evident early in life. We’re born with a map pointing to our destiny, detailed and revealed by God with us taking “one step at a time”.
God is a big God.
God is a generous God who gives us multiple dreams.
Growing up, my love for home in the country celebrating the old-fashioned ways of the Walton’s, cooking, canning and sewing from scratch delighted me from a very young age, teaching myself the trades of the kitchen. Homemade bread dough rises in a covered bowl on my kitchen counter, while cookies bake in the oven. Breakfast biscuits are rolled out and smothered with a fresh batch of summer jam immediately after hot and golden brown. Creations wait their turn on the sewing machine. Scented candles permeate a country-coziness to welcome guests and that handsome husband of mine returning home from work.
A picture painted from the heart of this housewife,
“There’s no place like home.”
As much as I longed to be an author, I coveted wearing the apron of a housewife and stay-at-home mom as well.
Unfortunately my true career dreams came years after chasing what the world viewed as success, leaving my children and heart behind at the babysitter while pursuing the almighty dollar.
Did I achieve success as a computer programmer analyst? The corporate ladder would agree but came with a steep price tag of lost time and memories never to be recouped with my children.
I wanted to be the one home making their breakfast and kissing their bruised knees. I wanted to be the one standing outside when the school bus came before and after class with my precious cargo. I didn’t want to be too tired and cranky during homework time. I wanted a clean house with beds made and dishes washed.
I just wanted to be home because truly,
“There’s no place like home.”
Once quoted from our Ladies Minister, Pastor Sue Zbell
“You can have it all, just not all at the same time.”
Thankfully I left the corporate ladder being able to enjoy the many years that still remained with my children living at home.
The best decision I ever made.
Proverbs 31 describes my heart for the home…
…. She delights in the work of her hands. Proverbs 31:13
… She watches over the ways of her household. Proverbs 31:27
God affirms and reminds those “keepers of home”….
She will be praised throughout eternity. Proverbs 31:30
So go ahead and give her the credit that is due,
for she has become a radiant woman,
and all her loving works of righteousness deserve to be admired
at the gateways of every city! Proverbs 31:31
Our kids have long since left the nest of their home, creating a corner of heaven for their own sweet families for which Papa and Gaga are so proud.
I made a second attempt at another career when the children married, but realized the first day on the job…
“There’s no place like home.”
I’m back home again still savoring the job description of stay at home mom, albeit a grandmother now to ten grandchildren who need me and ask all the time to visit their Gaga and Papa.
Will I return to work one day?
I have to remind myself and daughters who have also chosen careers at home, we do work. Our pay lasts beyond a weekly check cashed at the bank, whose dividends compound in the lives of our children and grandchildren and beyond.
Interestingly during this year of wanting more in my life, I dusted off that childhood dream and began this million mile walk of becoming an author with the first step penning encouragement entries in my journal called a “blog”.
While I write as a lasting legacy for my children and grandchildren, I get the privilege and overwhelming joy of taking you faithful readers with me during this journey, hopefully encouraging and inspiring your lives and dreams along the way.
My heart will always be that lighthouse illuminating the way home.
Home is where you lay your head at night.
Home is your safe place.
Home is a place of refuge.
Home is where your framed picture hangs on the wall.
Home has your name on the mailbox.
Home has its memories baked into the walls.
Home misses you when you turn the page and leave for the next chapter in life.
May my words I type capture this love of mine for home.
May my children and grandchildren treasure their legacy of words I have written especially for them.
May they read between the sentences and paragraphs that their greatest wealth in life is family and each other.
As an author inspired by a fictional character named John Boy who valued and wrote about family as I do, may my words continue to flow until the last page titled
“The End”.
May my children and grandchildren experience God’s truth that you don’t have to look any farther than your own back yard for fame and fortune.
May our prayers be full of gratitude for those that God has blessed us with to share our lives.
The light has been left on in the window in case you need to find your way back home.
The world can’t offer what home has to give.
You’re safe and sound in the four walls of your address.
Keep that framed picture close to your heart,
“There’s no place like home.”
Loved this one Lori.
Thank you so much JerrI. I always appreciate your kind words.
Sooo good, Lori. Thank you for lifting up the oft neglected treasure of “home.”
Thank you so much Chris. Always encouraging.
Lori, As I sit here enjoying my comforts of “home” as I read this beautiful writing, I can’t help but think how blessed I am to enjoy being home to take care of my family. It wasn’t always that way as many years ago I worked a career and became a single mother of 2 in doing so. Thank you for sharing your heart and reminding me that Home really matters and truly there is no other place like it!
With Love,
Your Fellow Sister Writer
Ahhh, thanks Sandy. I love that you really understand.
Home is truly the heart of the matter. I love that your heart agrees.