An “Unexpected Guest”

After a very hectic day at work, it was finally “Valentine Party Time!” So what that it has been ten days since February 14th? We didn’t care! We just back to work this week after being out for snow and ice for two weeks. We had feasted on pizza, nacho cheese dip and chips, and birthday cupcakes and were playing games when two strangers walked in – at least, they were strangers to me. It ends up that we had “unexpected guests” from the state. My first thought was, “Are you kidding me? They came TODAY?” Yet, why not today? I was glad to finally be able to put a “face” with the voice on the phone and all of the many emails that we’ve exchanged over the past few months. Needless to say, walking back into my office after seeing them off led me to working late. My office looked like a tornado had come through. It was time to find out what color my desk is (It’s brown, in case you’re wondering.). Even when we know that the unexpected can happen at any time, why do we let things slide and don’t stay prepared for “unexpected visitors?”

This reminds me of a poem I heard years ago, written by Lois Blanchard Eades. It has been put to music and sung by the likes of Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner, and Red Sovine, among others. It’s one of those that always makes me think. I hope it touches you.

If Jesus Came To Your House
by Lois Blanchard Eades

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two –
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do.
Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you’d serve to Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have him there –
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn’t heard?
And wish you hadn’t uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder – if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up it’s usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books your read,
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you’d planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they’d stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

Wow! It still gets to me. You know, we don’t know the time or day that Jesus will “come visiting,” but we do know that that day will come. Will He catch you by surprise? Simply blessed, Courtney