After a four year term in Ghana, we returned to the USA for our one year furlough in 1982.

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Having arrived in Chicago, we borrowed the car of my brother-in-law who so graciously loaned it to us  and drove 13 hours to visit my family in South Carolina.

The anticipation was almost unbearable for me. Every mile brought me closer to being reunited with my wonderful mother and my siblings.

In the back seat were three sweet little children.

The oldest two were 2 1/2 years old and 8 months old when we had left for Ghana in 1978 (and I was pregnant with number 3). Now our children were 6, 4, and 3 – essentially strangers to my family who love them so much.

But, of course, the greatest emotions going on in that car were mine – anticipating being reunited with my sweet mother who loves me more than life itself.

She was my angel. She lived a blameless life.

Finally, we drove over the hill and could see the house I had lived in from age 13 until I left to marry Mark in Ethiopia in 1975.

A big banner hung on the house to welcome us home. Family members were on the carport.

My heart nearly jumped out of my body as I waited for the car to almost come to a full stop before opening my door and flying out . . . toward my sweet Mom.

I was running towards my mom with all my energy – physically and emotionally.

I was not thinking of what to cook for supper.

I was not wondering how I would pay the bills.

I was not even thinking about what my Mom could do for me.

I just wanted to be with her again and feel her embrace.

This makes me think of how we should run towards God in our daily life.

We should run toward Him with the same vigor that I ran toward my Mom.

We should eagerly want to meet with Him and hear His voice every single day.

Meeting with God each day is a big part of walking with Jesus.

This is accomplished in our personal time with Him each day – reading His Word, praying, and listening, as well as throughout the day as we practice His presence.

Sometimes we replace God with other things that we are running towards.

Maybe it is a business venture.

Or maybe it is an addiction – like food or alcohol.

Or maybe we replace running to God with running to a human and we want our spouse or friend to fix all our hurts.

Going to people for help is okay and even sanctioned by God, but He doesn’t want human counsel to replace His counsel.

And He wants us to be most eager to be with Him and hear from Him.

Just like I was eager to be with my Mom again.

What (or who) are you running towards in your Christian life?

This post has been updated in April 2018.