Wednesday, May 17, 2006
My family calls it an idiosyncrasy or is it "idiotsyncrasy"? I'm not sure. But no matter when we get home whenever we've been on a trip, I must unpack. It is the first thing to do when you get home. Oh, it may be 2am, but there's Ron putting his clothes in the closet where they go; making sure his toothbrush is where it needs to be the next morning, putting my books back where they came from. Everyone else is zonked! They're in a coma, and here's Mr. Compulsive busily restoring order. See, I'm not home until I'm unpacked and finally I fall into bed and I go, "Ah, I'm finally home!" See, once everything is put away, I can finally start enjoying being home. Actually, we should unpack even sooner
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Unpacking Before You Get Home."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 1 Chronicles 16:43. It's one of those great examples out of a real flesh and blood life that are given to us from the Old Testament. It says, "Then all the people left, each for his own home, and David returned home" - notice these words - "to bless his family." He knows what his mission is, "When I get home, I'm going to bless my family."
David's been a very pretty busy guy. He's been busy with major battles, he's been busy organizing God's people, he's been busy running his whole kingdom, but now it's time to go home and he's going to bless them. Does this say David returned home to rest, recover, or to get his needs met? No, it says to bless his family. It's a great example for all of us - this selfless attitude - this other's attitude.
When you get home, no matter what the battles have been - whether you're coming home from work, school or errands you've been on, I wonder if it could be said of you - put your name in there. I'll put mine in there. "Ron, returned home to bless his family." Going home determined to be a blessing when you walk in the door. That means you have to unpack before you get home because we collect baggage all day long. On your way home, as you're driving or riding home, you need to unpack all those frustrations; all the stuff you left undone. It'll be there again tomorrow. You don't carry it all in the door with you. You kind of unpack all the people of your day and, as they say, focus on the family. Leave your work at work and get ready to be with your family - not just around your family, but with your family.
It's a discipline. You see, you sit down and you think through their day; what were they going through today, what do I need to ask them about, what were their needs when I left this morning, what was their agenda? This is kind of like loving your neighbor like you love yourself, except it's the people closest to you. Picture each one of them and pray for them. Leave your concerns with your Lord. The alternative is you walk in all preoccupied with yourself, and when you get home you make, it a point to touch everyone lovingly - every member of your family. Express an interest in each one's day. See if there's anything they need help on.
You say, "Well, man, I'm out of gas when I get home." The Bible says, "He that refreshes others, will himself be refreshed." So you get home and you set a climate of caring, and giving, and unselfishness, and guess what? You reap what you sow. You come in loaded down with the stress of the day and you sow stress, and you're going to reap more stress. So it doesn't matter if you're a mom or a dad, or a son or a daughter, or a brother or sister, a husband or wife, on your way home unpack your day.
You're not really home until you're unpacked. Then pray this simple prayer, "Lord make me a blessing from the moment I walk in the door." I think you'll like the results.