Good Morning America
I have arrived safe and sound
With tears in my eyes as I say goodbye
Goodbye to an unforgettable year
I still can’t believe this dream was so real
2021 will be a year that I will always remember
I will remember the hard times, rejoicing times, and times when things did not make sense
Goodbye, Goodbye
Welcome to America,
Where culture shock is hitting me
Wow you can flush the toilet paper in the toilet
You can take a hot shower any time of the day
You can wash and dry your clothes all at the same time
You have an unlimited amount of options at the store
You can drink clean and fresh water from the sink
There is speedy wifi wherever you go
Welcome to America
Where time is so important but everyone is in a hurry
In a hurry to get to the plane, a hurry to get to work, a hurry to meet a friend
Remember when I could sit for hours and talk to a complete stranger
Remember the times when people invited me into their homes for tea with no time frame
Remember when time did not trap me
Remember when I asked the Lord what to do and I did it
I will not forget and I will not let time stop me
Welcome to America
Jet lag is a real thing
I can’t sleep, I can’t sleep
I am wake at the oddest of hours
It is 4 am as I write this
God is reminding me to keep watch and pray
Pray for the places I have been and pray for America
The lost are all around me and they need a Savior
I may not be hearing prayer calls five times day
But I am wide awake so I will pray
Pray for this place I call home to understand,
Isaiah 53:6 “We are all like sheep have gone astray
We have turned, everyone to his own way
And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
To my family and friends
My hope is in the Lord and I will choose him even when I do not know what is next
I may not be able to answer all your questions as I am processing this year
But you are in my life for a reason and I will make time for you
I will choose to love you even when it does not make sense
I will choose to give you feedback that will point you back to Christ,
I will choose to not run away when it gets hard
I will choose you because God has chosen you for me
I love you
Welcome home Antoinette! And what a lovely poem – thank you!
Wow it went fast from this end. Glad you are back safe and sound 🙂
Antoinette – I really appreciate your honest reflections on what it is like to be back in the USA. You recognize that you are, in theory, “home” but that you left a huge part of your heart in places all over the world. I can’t wait to see you…have a one of a kind Antoinette hug…and hear your stories of how God changed you through your time in the Race. I love you so much!!
Beautiful, convicting, poetic writing. Welcome home friend!