When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.
Matthew 8:14-15
Peter’s mother-in-law lived in Capernaum with Peter. As Jesus entered Peter’s house, he healed his mother-in-law. Today Peter’s house has a church built above it, but you can still see the remains of the walls.
From Peter’s house to the synagogue, it is a very short distance. Between the two are ruins from other homes and buildings that make up Capernaum. The whole town was not very large, and it sits right on the shores of the Galilee.
He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea […]
Matthew 4:13
Capernaum was home to Jesus during part of his ministry. When we were in Capernaum, I knew of all the ties Jesus had to this town on the shores of the Galilee, but I hadn’t known this.
And as I look back through my photos and videos of this place on the northern shore of the Galilee region, I can see why Jesus would choose to live here.
It is beautiful. During his time he would have been able to stand at the edge of the synagogue and look out through the town at the sea of Galilee.
He could walk down to the shore and embrace the sounds of the water. Watch the sun as it reflects and refracts. Breathe in the fresh air. Feel the uneven rocks beneath his feet. Admire the plants and vegetation.
I can picture him giving thanks to his father for this beautiful place.
Often times we don’t appreciate the places we call home. We talk about places we’d love to live – on the beach so I could watch the waves each morning, in the mountains so I can see the sunrise over the peaks, in the city to see the hustle and bustle of life, in a small town to see the community built amongst the people, etc.
But have you stopped to look around the place you call home and thanked God for it? For the county roads you get to drive on your way to work south of the city? For sunrise you get to see through the trees? For the beauty of the lights at night downtown?
I know I don’t do this often enough. Right now we’ve been given more time to spend in the place we call home – be it our house, our neighborhood, our town, our city, etc. We’ve been given an opportunity to see the beauty around us that we have missed in the hustle and bustle of the world around us. Will you take a few moments this week to thank God for your home? For the small things that make your home special?
God, we thank You for the place we call home. Help us to appreciate the beauty around us in our homes. Thank You! Amen.
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 
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