Are You Surprised?

December 7, 2022

I love to meet new people. Whether they are visiting us at church, or one of the relatives brings a guest to a holiday meal, or the person in line in front of me at the grocery store starts a conversation, it’s bound to be a highlight of my day.

Not everyone likes visitors. You can count on a new person pushing life off-center. They are different that what you are used to.

Let me look at something else for a second. I promise I’ll make a connection. Have you noticed that more and more people want gift cards for a present at Christmas? Sometimes they even ask for cash! It seems they don’t trust other folks to buy a gift that’s appropriate or something useful. I guess I can understand that, since we all get the occasional gift we can’t really relate to.

I think we’ve lost our taste for surprises. We don’t want the adventure of giving something new a try. I hope I’m not like that! If a friend or relative gives me a gift, I’ll use it and try to incorporate it into my life.

Alright, back to the first subject, meeting new people. God sends all kinds of people into our lives, and some can be like that surprise gift at Christmas. At first, they may seem different, even odd. Make room for them in your life! They may change you, in a way you at first don’t especially relish. God may be trying to adjust you a little.

Luke 6:32, “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”

Sometimes that phrase, ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ takes a little effort!