"Home" for Christmas & Beyond

Will L. Thompson penned the words of this old invitational hymn of the faith back in 1880. During this Christmas season with songs like "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Please Come Home for Christmas" in the air, saturating in these words seem to have additional meaning for my soul:

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Refrain

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Refrain

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Refrain

(Read the Words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30.)

ALL JOY TO YOUR WORLD!

Grateful