The Christmas Guest
It's Christmas Eve, and I find myself with mixed emotions. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, but we're not as close to as much of our extended family as we used to be, and so there really isn't anything to do tonight. Our good family friend Peter was here for a while this afternoon, as were my God parents, Barb and Paul. Now that they're gone, things feel pretty empty. I'm looking forward to church tonight - somehow it always helps me to reflect.
I know tomorrow will be quiet too. My uncle is coming up for dinner, and that's it. Seems like not nearly enough when I think of the Christmas days past, when literally dozens of family members would cram into my dad's parents living room, and then later we'd make the mad tear down to my mom's parents place. I miss all that. I've really been wishing more of my friends were around, as it would have been neat to find a little time visiting some of them today. This season also tends to make me wish for that special someone in my life a little more than usual, and lately I've even been thinking about having my own family.
Having said all that, Christmas is still special, and I'm greatful for all of the good people that are in my life, that I've gotten to see today, and who are in my heart.
This holiday vacation is giving me a lot to think about. Some big decisions are on the horizon (most specifically, what I'm going to do with myself next year) and as I'm trying to decide these things, I find I'm reconsidering a lot of what goes on day to day in my life, and wanting some changes. These aren't hard things at all, just choices moment to moment, and I have to start. For example, spending more time with cousins, aunts, and uncles, instead of looking for a party on Saturday nights. I missed these things. I've missed pizza jo on Fridays, and I've missed sitting, watching TV, thinking of nothing. I have to get some priorities straight.
In all of this, its easy to lose the idea that, as the corny lawn sign says, "Jesus is the reason for the season". Below I'm posting the lyrics to a song by Reba MacIntyre called "The Christmas Guest". It's a beautiful song that makes me cry when I hear it. It always reminds me not only what Christmas is about, but how God speaks to us in ways we don't even know, he fulfills promises without us even realizing, and most of all that love for one another is most important. It's kind of long, but everyone should read it, as it's a beautiful message.
I wish all of you the very best this Christmas eve. I hope everyone is content, and everything in your lives feels right, for at least one night.
"It happened one day near December's end,
Two neighbors called on an old friend.
And they found his shop so meager and lean
Made gay with thousand bows of green
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
And he said "Old friends, at dawn today,
When the cock was crowing the night away
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
And said "I'm coming your guest to be."
So I've been busy with feet astir
Strewing my shop with branches of fern.
The table is spread and the kettle is shined.
And over the rafters the holly is twined.
Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear
And listen closely so I will hear
His step as He nears my humble place.
And I'll open the door and look on His face.
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone
For this was the happiest day he had known,
For long since, his family had passed away
And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day.
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest
This Christmas would be the dearest and best.
So he listened with only joy in his heart
And with every sound he would rise with a start
And look for the Lord to be at his door.
Like the vision he had had a few hours before.
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound
But all he could see on the snow covered ground
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn.
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
And he said, "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore.
I have some shoes in my shop for you
And a coat that will keep you warmer too."
So with grateful heart the man went away
but Conrad noticed the time of day
And wondered what made the Lord so late
And how much longer he'd have to wait.
When he heard a knock, he ran to the door
But it was only a stranger once more.
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back.
She asked for only a place to rest
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest.
But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away,
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas Day",
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
And told her to sit at the table and sup.
But after she left he was filled with dismay
For he saw that the hours were slipping away
And the Lord hadn't come as he said he would.
Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood.
When out of the stillness he heard a cry
“Please help me and tell me where am I?"
So again he opened his friendly door
And stood disappointed as twice before.
It was only a child who’d wandered away
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day.
Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad
But he knew he should make the little girl glad.
So he called her in and he wiped her tears
And quieted all her childish fears.
Then he led her back to her home once more
But as he entered his own darkened door
he knew the Lord was not coming today.
For the hours of Christmas had passed away
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray
And he said "Dear Lord, why did you delay?
What kept you from coming to call on me?
For I wanted so much your face to see.”
When soft in the silence a voice he heard.
"Lift up your head for I kept my word.
Three times my shadow crossed your floor
And three times I came to your lonely door.
I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet
And I was the woman you gave something to eat.
I was the child on the homeless street.
Three times I knocked, and three times I came in.
And each time I found the warmth of a friend.
Of all the gifts, love is the best.
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest.""
I know tomorrow will be quiet too. My uncle is coming up for dinner, and that's it. Seems like not nearly enough when I think of the Christmas days past, when literally dozens of family members would cram into my dad's parents living room, and then later we'd make the mad tear down to my mom's parents place. I miss all that. I've really been wishing more of my friends were around, as it would have been neat to find a little time visiting some of them today. This season also tends to make me wish for that special someone in my life a little more than usual, and lately I've even been thinking about having my own family.
Having said all that, Christmas is still special, and I'm greatful for all of the good people that are in my life, that I've gotten to see today, and who are in my heart.
This holiday vacation is giving me a lot to think about. Some big decisions are on the horizon (most specifically, what I'm going to do with myself next year) and as I'm trying to decide these things, I find I'm reconsidering a lot of what goes on day to day in my life, and wanting some changes. These aren't hard things at all, just choices moment to moment, and I have to start. For example, spending more time with cousins, aunts, and uncles, instead of looking for a party on Saturday nights. I missed these things. I've missed pizza jo on Fridays, and I've missed sitting, watching TV, thinking of nothing. I have to get some priorities straight.
In all of this, its easy to lose the idea that, as the corny lawn sign says, "Jesus is the reason for the season". Below I'm posting the lyrics to a song by Reba MacIntyre called "The Christmas Guest". It's a beautiful song that makes me cry when I hear it. It always reminds me not only what Christmas is about, but how God speaks to us in ways we don't even know, he fulfills promises without us even realizing, and most of all that love for one another is most important. It's kind of long, but everyone should read it, as it's a beautiful message.
I wish all of you the very best this Christmas eve. I hope everyone is content, and everything in your lives feels right, for at least one night.
"It happened one day near December's end,
Two neighbors called on an old friend.
And they found his shop so meager and lean
Made gay with thousand bows of green
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
And he said "Old friends, at dawn today,
When the cock was crowing the night away
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
And said "I'm coming your guest to be."
So I've been busy with feet astir
Strewing my shop with branches of fern.
The table is spread and the kettle is shined.
And over the rafters the holly is twined.
Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear
And listen closely so I will hear
His step as He nears my humble place.
And I'll open the door and look on His face.
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone
For this was the happiest day he had known,
For long since, his family had passed away
And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day.
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas Guest
This Christmas would be the dearest and best.
So he listened with only joy in his heart
And with every sound he would rise with a start
And look for the Lord to be at his door.
Like the vision he had had a few hours before.
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound
But all he could see on the snow covered ground
Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn.
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
And he said, "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore.
I have some shoes in my shop for you
And a coat that will keep you warmer too."
So with grateful heart the man went away
but Conrad noticed the time of day
And wondered what made the Lord so late
And how much longer he'd have to wait.
When he heard a knock, he ran to the door
But it was only a stranger once more.
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back.
She asked for only a place to rest
But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest.
But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away,
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas Day",
So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
And told her to sit at the table and sup.
But after she left he was filled with dismay
For he saw that the hours were slipping away
And the Lord hadn't come as he said he would.
Then Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood.
When out of the stillness he heard a cry
“Please help me and tell me where am I?"
So again he opened his friendly door
And stood disappointed as twice before.
It was only a child who’d wandered away
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day.
Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad
But he knew he should make the little girl glad.
So he called her in and he wiped her tears
And quieted all her childish fears.
Then he led her back to her home once more
But as he entered his own darkened door
he knew the Lord was not coming today.
For the hours of Christmas had passed away
So he went to his room and knelt down to pray
And he said "Dear Lord, why did you delay?
What kept you from coming to call on me?
For I wanted so much your face to see.”
When soft in the silence a voice he heard.
"Lift up your head for I kept my word.
Three times my shadow crossed your floor
And three times I came to your lonely door.
I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet
And I was the woman you gave something to eat.
I was the child on the homeless street.
Three times I knocked, and three times I came in.
And each time I found the warmth of a friend.
Of all the gifts, love is the best.
And I was honored to be your Christmas Guest.""