Daily Devotion

Kellie Grabenbauer

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house
has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John14:1-4

      If you are an early riser, or like me have kids on an early bus, you know how dark it is at 6:45
am this time of year. This darkness is where I found myself contemplating my house on the way
back from the bus stop this morning. I stood there by my mailbox wondering how my house
could be completely empty of people and yet there it was, lit up from every window.
As my mind ching-chinged the electrical bill, I had a moment of clarity on a few things. 1. What
privilege I have to live in a house, in a neighborhood, in a country where power comes right to
my light switch. 2. My kids are great at some things, turning off the lights is not one of them.
And 3. It won’t always be like this.

        It would surprise no one who knows us, that my husband and I have different styles of
parenting. In the early years, we reminded the kids often & sent them back to turn off lights.
Whether we got complacent or wiser, we’ve changed tactics. My husband’s go-to technique for
energy conservation now is simply to unscrew any lightbulb he finds glowing unattended. The
kids often find themselves in dimly lit bathrooms. As for me, I’m known to burst into song
instead of yelling reminders. This little infraction might earn you an entire chorus of the Trace
Adkin’s song “Every Light in the House is On.” I love to sing, but am not a singer and have
found loud and off-key is fairly effective. If you’re unfamiliar with the song, it goes like this:

Every light in the house is on, the backyard’s bright as the crack of dawn.
The front walk looks like runway lights. It’s kinda like noon in the dead of night.
Every light in the house is on. Just in case you ever do get tired of being gone.
Every light in the house is on.

    Back at the mailbox, I realize that those glowing lights are a signal that my house isn’t empty but
full. For now. The one dark window, at the back of the house, is where my college student lays
her head when she is here. One by one, I know the other windows will go dark as they grow up
and move out, I pull up the full song as I run through the house turning off lights, just to remind
myself to love these moments. In the song, he is pining for his love to come home and assures
her he’ll be waiting with welcoming arms and a lit up house whenever she’s ready.

    How like us as parents! And how like our heavenly Father! He has indeed prepared a house
with many rooms and I like to think, many lights, waiting to welcome us home. Even when we’re
a little lost, or a little slow to get in touch, or even to recognize His love, He’s there inviting us in.
So I’ll still flip the switch, and I’ll sing, badly, and treasure these days and the promises ahead.

6 comments on article "Daily Devotion"

Kelly Torggler

Thank you so much for sharing Kellie - this really hit “home” for me and just filled my heart. Blessings to you and your family!

11/18/2020 9:00 AM

Reply to

Danelle Buelsing

Beautifully written, Kellie. I'm saying a prayer of thanks for those lights left on.

11/18/2020 11:46 PM

Reply to

Ann Pfeiffer Walker

I love this so much- thank you for sharing!

11/19/2020 9:44 AM

Reply to

Kristin Kalsem

I loved this Kellie! Thank you for sharing.

11/19/2020 1:04 PM

Reply to

Betsy Fields

Awesome, Kellie.

11/19/2020 7:37 PM

Reply to

Katy Ping

This spoke volumes to me. Thank you for your insights and prayerful expressions.

11/21/2020 12:40 PM

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