Making a Place Home

I’m excited to introduce my friend-from-elementary-school Sara (Johnson) Sills as a guest poster today! I feel like she has a great topic that will resonate with many of you; I hope you find inspiration to get out there and live your life for God, no matter where you’re planted. ~Kristen

Three years ago my husband Matt and I moved our family from Atlanta, Georgia to Leachville, Arkansas. Leachville is a town of about 2,000 people and two of those people are my in-laws. We moved for several reasons, but not one of them was that we were unhappy in Atlanta. We loved our life there. We had great friends, loved our jobs, and were supported and encouraged by an amazing church family.

The move was exciting, though. We looked forward to and found that we had more family time, a church where we were very much needed, and some fun perks of small town life. One of those perks is that even though there is not a grocery store in town, you can often still get what you need. We have been given eggs from friend’s chickens – and potatoes and other vegetables grown locally. Just recently we went to get watermelons from a local farmer and he saw that we had cake left over from my mother’s retirement celebration. He told my mother-in-law that instead of paying him, he would just take that leftover cake. So that’s what we did! Seemed like more than a fair trade to me—six watermelons for leftover cake!

I don’t regret moving at all, but at times I suffered with “grass is greener” syndrome. I struggled to feel like Leachville was my home, even though it’s a great place to live and we felt very loved here.

The most difficult time was the winter months after we moved. I am a very social person, but I ended up so much of the time doing things alone (with my kids) during the day. I remember several times sitting at McDonalds one town over, praying for someone else with kids to come in so I could have some conversation. I also remember that day at the library…a sweet girl said to me, “You are new, and look like you’re by yourself. A bunch of us are going to eat. Want to join us?” I called my mom on the way home and said, “I made a friend!!” The whole thing felt pitiful in a way, but I needed that so much. I missed my Atlanta friends and thought that I would never feel settled.

During this time, Matt played a song for me that immediately brought me to tears. I had heard parts of it before; it is “Home” by Phillip Phillips, who apparently won American Idol – and the song was used during the coverage of the Olympics. We didn’t watch American Idol and I hadn’t really listened to the lyrics when they play it with the coverage, but when Matt played it, I was moved. 

Here are the lyrics:
Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home
Settle down, it’ll all be clear
Don’t pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

These were my thoughts after hearing the song: “Seriously, is God speaking to me through this song? Hold on to him! He’s going to make this place my home? I’m not alone? Ignore those demons that fill you with fear!” It may sound cheezy, I know, but that’s the only way I know how to express how much the song meant to me in that moment.

What a reminder and comfort for me! Every night we say verses with our kids (Jeremiah 39:11, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 13:5,6, and Psalm 63:5,6) but if I am not careful, I only say the words. I don’t listen to them. Obviously I know that God has plans for me and that He is with me but I need to take refuge in those promises. I needed to hear what he had to say to me:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27:1, 3)

Your father knows what you need before you ask him. So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (Will we have enough money? Will my boys have friends? Will I have friends? Will we be happy?) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Or as my mom says “don’t borrow trouble, Sara!”) (Matthew 6:8b, 31-34)

Three years later, Leachville is much more like home. I don’t know if we will ever feel completely settled here or anywhere. But that’s the way it should be; our “home” is not here on this earth, is it? Our home is in heaven, but in the meantime, how do we make this place feel more like home? These are the things that helped me…

1. Pray for it. That one may seem obvious, but we forget.
2. Get out of the house regularly—I found a Bible study and a library story time for the kids, and of course, find a church family and get involved!

3. If no one invites you, get out of your comfort zone and be the one to organize and invite. I found out after living here over a year that there were other stay-at-home moms and ladies in the community that were needing me as much as I needed them. I kept waiting to be asked and missed opportunities to reach out to others myself.
4. Don’t let the demons get you—in other words, don’t give up, don’t let yourself dwell in the “if I still lived there.” I started a little mothers’ day out the first year, and it totally flopped. BUT then I started a Bible study in town and it has been such a blessing to me! Don’t get discouraged; if something doesn’t work, try something else.
5. Serve others however you can. The best days since we have lived here are the ones where we have gone to visit people who are sick, cooked for someone, cleaned the church building, or worked at the local food bank. 

Sara is married to Matt and together they have four sweet kids: Henry, Cole, Asher, and Ellie Marie. Sara is a stay-at-home mom and self-professed dabbler, having had several professions and hobbies including teaching, public relations, photography, painting, babysitting, and Jamberry nails consulting.