Jesus came knocking at my door today.  I was caught unprepared.  He wanted to spend time with me and yet I wasn’t ready.  My house was messy, dishes in the sink, laundry unfolded in a pile on the couch, and papers to grade on my desk.  

I was heading out the door to pick Jessi and drop off  Maria when I heard the knock.

“Now what?” I thought as I ran to the door with entourage of children at my heels.

As I opened the door, a wave of peacefulness greeted us like a gentle wind.  There he stood.   We froze until Kenna broke the silence with a whisper, “It’s Jesus!”

I ushered him in with an apology for the mess.  He smiled with eyes of compassion.  He followed me to the living room where usually we find two barking dogs.  Today they were unusually quiet as they ran up to greet him.

Moving the laundry off the couch, I offered him a seat.  He picked up Charlie and sat down next to Maddi Grace, who had already found her place next to him. The air in the room was different with Jesus there.  A sense of peace covered the room and all those in it.   Joy and happiness filled our hearts. 

I sat down across from him looking around at all the messiness and felt sorrow.  Jesus reached out for my hand and I looked into his eyes.  The guilt was gone.  I only saw mercy.

“I am not perfect!” I whispered as my eyes closed.  He replied, “You don’t have to be.”

“I’m not enough to get it all done,”

Our eyes met and I heard these words, “Alone you are not enough, but with me you are all that you can be. I am here for you.”

With tears, I fell into his arms and wept.  I felt a hand on my shoulder as my son, Joey said, “Mommy, Jesus doesn’t want you to be sad.”

Jesus wiped away my tears, “He is right!”

Lord, I didn’t have time today to prepare a place for you in my home, but you weren’t looking there. You were looking in my heart.  It was there you found me prepared and ready.   Thank you, Lord, for giving me a moment to rest in your arms and show my children your peacefulness and grace. Amen.

By Lisa Marie Taylor – 2019