Monday, December 17, 2012

I'll Be Home for Christmas

I was born, raised and married in Tulsa, Oklahoma. So even after moving to Arkansas and later to Kentucky, I would always refer to home as back in Oklahoma. After all, that is where I grew up and all my family and my husband's family still live there.

But as I was re-reading the book of Ruth, I ran across something I had underlined 31 years ago.

"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried." Ruth 1:16-17

These words were a part of our wedding vows. I was reminded that wherever my husband was, that was my home. He and I became one all those years ago and as fond as I am of Oklahoma, my home is wherever he is.

When my husband Keith asked me almost 8 years ago how I felt about moving to Kentucky, I cried. After living in Arkansas 4 1/2 years , we moved back to Oklahoma in a town just an hour down the road from Tulsa. For 13 years, it was easy to make week-end trips there and the family up the road to see us. When I learned there would be over 700 miles between me and the rest of the family, I thought it might as well be at the other end of the world. No more week-end trips. More like one week out of the year! But there's that leaving and cleaving thing, and I took it seriously when I made those vows. While still upset about moving, I went to my Bible and read the Ruth verse again. I took a deep breath and said,
"Ok Lord, I'm ready to go."

Home is right beside my husband, whether it be in the plains and praries, the Ozark Mountains, or in the blue grass state. So yes, I'll be home for Christmas. . .right beside my sweetie.

 
~Merry Christmas to you from Keith and Kris~
 
 
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8 comments:

  1. Shakin' the FoundationDecember 17, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    Beautiful!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!! May God continue to bless you htis new year :))

    Blessings~
    Stacey

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  2. Kristin BridgmanDecember 17, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    Thank you Stacey! Merry Christmas to you my friend! Maybe we will meet next year? :)

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  3. a joyful noiseDecember 17, 2012 at 4:36 PM

    Such beautiful thoughts about home!
    My heart belongs first to Jesus then to my husband, and I am at home! Thanks for sharing at Tell me a Story

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  4. FloydDecember 17, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    You have a great perspective. My guess is that your husband would rope the moon for you if it were possible. That's what makes great families. Love in sacrifice. That's a great picture of you two.

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  5. caryjoDecember 17, 2012 at 6:58 PM

    A-MEN!!!!!!!!!! My husband is the one I can count on... fitting my schedule, my life, both family and ministry. Focusing on him is my main goal. Easy to become side-tracked. But also easy to notice immediately if anything is not going perfectly well. Gooooood teaching, sharing on your part.

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  6. DeniseDecember 17, 2012 at 7:56 PM

    Really lovely.

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  7. StacieDecember 18, 2012 at 6:43 PM

    Kristin,
    This is a great post. . .very good! I, too know what it's like to leave ALL of my family, and everything I've known, behind to cleave with my husband. . .from the mid-west to the east coast.
    This is a great post for renewed perspective.
    Thanks for your wisdom and Merry Christmas!

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  8. joyDecember 19, 2012 at 9:10 PM

    Yes, home is where your heart is. I can relate to you having my family a million miles away. But God is with us wherever we go and so with them. Merry christmas:)

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