Living and Loving Where You Are
Much of my daily adult interaction takes place online. With three busy kids—two of whom are really young and two of whom have special needs—it’s often easiest to connect with others by writing a quick text or Facebook message. I frequently use my blog and Facebook groups to “meet” people and forge relationships.
Recently I’ve been in a few situations that require me to introduce myself online. I typically share a picture of my family and then write a quick bio. I always include a little bit about our adoptions and what my husband does for a living. Many times, I also include the town or area where we live.
I’ve noticed lately that when I try to type “we live in Illinois,” or “we live just north of Springfield,” the auto-correct feature jumps in to help. More often than not, when I re-read my bio, I notice that the word “live” is auto-corrected to the word “love.”
Typos frustrate me, so at first, I hurriedly fixed the mistake and moved on. One day though, as I re-read my post, I realized the potential truth behind this correction.
“Hi! We’re the Newinghams. We have three crazy boys and we love in Illinois.”
In this life, it’s really not about where we LIVE. The coordinates of the place where my head hits the pillow don’t matter much. It’s not important to note my personal pin location on a map. That address written on my mailbox doesn’t actually make a difference.
[Tweet “What matters is where I am showing LOVE to those around me.”]
Am I demonstrating love inside these walls I call my home? Am I loving my geographical neighbors, not just my virtual neighbors? Can I honestly say, “I love in Illinois”?
Now, whenever I introduce myself online, I’ve been writing, “We are the Newinghams; we live/love in Athens, Illinois.”
I don’t want to spend this life solely residing in our physical address or our dot on a map. I refuse to just LIVE somewhere. I want to LOVE where we are.
At home, Ginger Newingham is in charge of wiping noses, wiping bottoms, wiping mouths, and wiping off the table (with different rags, of course!). She and her husband live in Athens, IL with their three children – a Bulgarian, a biological son, and a Latvian. Ginger blogs at ourmomentsdefined.com about living intentionally while raising two adopted sons with special needs.
Photograph used with permission from, and copyright of, Ginger Newingham.
Ginger, you have a beautiful heart. “The coordinates of the place where my head hits the pillow don’t matter much.” It’s easy to get wrapped up in location, environment, status. It’s all about love!
It really is! We spend a lot of our lives looking for the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, but we need to focus on living missionally, no matter our address!
awesome reminder!
Thank you! Thanks for reading along!
Wonderfully stated! I hope I can say I live/love in Georgia.
<3
Tight Ginger! So tight! This reminder for loving ” here” is right on. I like your description of auto-correct jumping in while typing. The Holy Spirit auto-corrects us in real time on occasion, don’t you think? Such a pleasure reading this. ????????????????
Ooo. I hadn’t thought about the Holy Spirit being like auto-correct! Love that!
Gorgeous post, Ginger!
It’s a great reminder for me to love where I am. We’ve moved so many times that when people ask where I live, I am quick to give a disclaimer that “we’re not from here.” Um, that’s not the point. This is where I am today so this is where I love today.
Thanks for the encouragement. I lived and loved in Illinois for many years myself. Cheering you on from Texas!
Great insight! Many people move often enough that “home” is a loose term. But, like you said, our focus should be loving and serving where we live at the moment.
I’ve lived and loved in various places, too, and the Lord brought me back to live and love in Illinois! He loves everyone in all those places and wants me to share that love with those with whom I interact. 🙂
Loved your post, Ginger!
Ginger, such wonderful insight. Your courage and positive attitude are inspirational to anyone’s life/love. I’m trying everyday to live/love where the Lord has placed me and to find my purpose in another place to to my best to pass on Gods will.
Kathy, I love that you are living out that mission!
Love your writing Ginger!!! I can’t wait to read more!