Many people have asked me to continue to write my thoughts, so for those few who enjoy reading the mixed up, random, scattered thoughts of my brain this is for you. Now don't torture yourself by following or even reading if you don't want to, I promise I won't be offended. But for all of those who want to climb in and sit beside me on this roller coaster of your life - it's my pleasure.
Now everyone is familiar with that awkward silence that follows the first initial welcome home hug to any returned missionary. There is no shame, we feel the awkwardness of it as well. Yes, we can feel the overwhelming excitement that transmitted through your hug but once we have both pulled away...then what? If you are waiting for us to start the conversation you had better be prepared to answer with what you read in your daily personal study or if you have kept all your commitments. So instead, we wait. We wait for you to start the conversation. Somehow it naturally always seems to start with a few questions. Let's chat about these questions...
1) "Are you excited to be home?"
So, so tough to answer. Yes, usually we are excited to hug our beloved families, run our toes through carpet, and stroll through Walmart once again but truthfully, no we are not. Please do not take this personally, it is not against you. Many of you have spent the recent amount of time anxiously awaiting our return whereas we were painfully aware of the day in which we would remove the tag that has become who we are and end the beloved dimension that has become our reality.
2) "How was your mission?"
Really? Do you really expect us to put our entire mission into a quick, short reply. The only way to adequately respond to this is "It was a mission." If you served a mission than only you will truly be able to understand the moments of devastating heartbreak, overwhelming joy, and personal growth. If you did not serve a mission than we will try to suffice your curiosity with "it was amazing."
3) "So are you normal again?"
What is normal? We felt normal in the life we just so maybe you are the one that is not normal! No okay, it is a fair question. We left home and we were "normal" to you at that time. That is who we had been for the past 18, 19, 20, or 21 years. Then we served missions and we improved ourselves. We smooth our edges. The put our lives into the hands of the Lord and He shaped us to the creations that we were designed to be. So are we normal? No, and we never will be again. How can we be "normal" again after we are improved and bettered? Normal is digression. This is the new normal!
Of course, each of us returned missionaries served completely different missions and will therefore respond to each question differently. I respond just for myself!
Happy reading!
Christine Marie
