Behold, I stand at the door and knock: / if anyone hears my voice and opens the door to me, / I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
If anyone knock on my door on Christmas Day, would I hear their voice and open it and have them to dine with me? I live in a city; there are so many people out on the street I could invite to come in. There are so many lonely people here without family, without friends who could come to dine. There are so many people knocking. I wonder if I am listening.
Susie and Delia are a constant reminder to me of Christmas and who surrounded the Christ Child. Manger animals. Perhaps, cats. Shepherds. Quite regular people. Subway riders. The homeless. Farmers. Waitresses. Nurse’s aides.
We often idealize that manger scene. In our homes, we create Martha Stewart or Paula Dean Christmases and create such high expectations that they always cause huge disappointments.
Susie and Delia remind me how simple Christmas is–the birth of the Christ Child. I can focus on that or complicate it as much as I want to.
I can listen for the knock on the door. I can seek the star in the sky or I can become absorbed in wrapping gifts or making appetizers.
Christmas can proclaim “Peace on earth” and I can let it begin with me.