Many years ago, a missionary was returning to his home in the United States. After spending the prime years of his life serving the Lord, he was now ready to retire from his work on the mission field. He was arriving in New York on the same ocean liner on which Teddy Roosevelt was returning home from a safari in Africa.

A huge crowd stood at the dock waiting to give Roosevelt a grand reception. As the missionary watched the excitement and heard the cheers of the crowd, he began to feel envious and sorry for himself. After all, he had arrived with no one to greet him, and he felt alone.

In a fit of despair he prayed, "Lord, I've given my life to serve You as a missionary, and yet now not a soul welcomes me home." In that moment he heard a voice from within as if God were speaking directly to him, "My dear child, you're not home yet."