Focusing on the Future
March 21 2026 — Laura House
I am thankful for memories. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a flood of them. Traveling back to my childhood home in Indiana recently opened the door to so many. Although my mom has been with Jesus for many years, I thought of her everywhere I looked — china that was hand-painted by my grandmother displayed perfectly in Mom’s china cabinets, the skillfully positioned decor in every room still placed just as it was when she was still here, spring flowers that she planted starting to peek through the ground, and so much more. As Dad and I sat in the sunroom that he built many years ago, Mom’s favorite room of the house, we reminisced about the beautiful memories made there.
And then…Nathan. Memories of him filled my mind.
As my nieces and nephews arrived, my thoughts turned to the many memories made by all of the cousins on past holidays and on many ordinary days… the hilarity, performances of the Christmas story and the debate about who would get to play each part, hours of “kick the can” and other farm shenanigans, and the “cousin movies” that were made. Recently, we watched those movies again and, well, although they aren’t something the general populace would enjoy, they are priceless to me. Those were the days of laughter, camaraderie, ingenuity, creativity, and so much cousin love. This time, some of those same cousins brought their own precious children, who will soon be old enough to enjoy making special memories themselves.
When Nathan went to Heaven, we didn’t know for sure where our other children would settle and where we would be, and it made sense to bury his earthly body near family in Indiana, next to my Mom. The setting is breathtaking, at the small old country cemetery overlooking the river, right next to the woods filled with deciduous trees that produce a stunning array of color in the fall. This visit, the weather made it difficult to spend much time there. It’s interesting that for some bereaved parents, visiting the gravesite is painfully difficult, and not a place of comfort. But for others, it’s a solace, and they go often. How is it for you?
For me, I love the tranquility and beauty of the place where Mom and Nathan’s earthly bodies are laid to rest. But honestly, I always focus on the future when I’m there. Although their earthly bodies are there, Mom and Nathan aren’t. They are with Jesus, healed and whole, with no more pain or suffering.
For me, my gratitude for memories remains, but my focus is the future — eternity with Jesus and my loved ones. Memories are a gift that I unwrap when I want to, but my earthly life is focused on the future. I hope it’s the same for you.
The passages in the Bible that talk about our future home now cause me to pause, wonder, and express thanks. Here are a few of my favorites:
Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Colossians 3:1-4 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
John 14:1-3 “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.”
I Thessalonians 4:14-18 “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Are you missing someone today? Remind yourself as many times as necessary of the truth that our true and eternal home is not this earth. We are only here for a little while.
Focusing on the future allows us to prioritize what we do with our time each day. Our earthly lives are short. What is God calling you to do?
While we are here, let’s strive to glorify the Lord with all that we do and say each day. Let us work hard to fulfill what He has for each of us to accomplish, knowing that our time here is short, and the best is yet to come.
Hebrews 12: 1-2a “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, …”
