We had an unusual visitor at the store this week!  I think Santa has been keeping all of his workers so busy that he had to come to get some candy from us for his local rounds! What a fun surprise, and I got permission to take his picture to prove he was here in Thomasville early!

There have been several books or movies made about “mysterious” visitors who show up in a community, impact the lives of some people and then just as mysteriously disappear. Then there is the old classic about a man who got to see what life would have been like in his community if he had not been born and had the influence that he did (“It’s a Wonderful Life”). 

One such visitor appeared on the scene near Jerusalem about 2000 years ago. He was born into poverty, lived a very simple life as a carpenter until He was almost 30 years old when His life began to impact those around Him in such a profound way. His life has impacted the lives of more people than any other life that has been lived upon this earth. The gifts that He has brought to mankind — salvation, healing, peace, joy, love — just to name a few, have been freely bestowed upon all who would receive Him. We celebrate His birth as well as His sacrificial life and death.

If He had been the visitor who had showed up at the store this week, how would He have appeared?  Would I have recognized Him (Santa had on his normal, identifiable outfit) — what would He have been wearing?  Would He have laid His hand upon my manager’s head and healed her severe headache? Would He have brought a word of comfort to her about her sister-in-law who is in serious condition in the hospital?  Would He have played with some of the children who visit us regularly?  Would He have had some words of wisdom for me?

Even though we don’t always recognize His presence, He is with us in all that we do. He wants to be an integral part of our daily lives, affecting our decisions and actions.  But He wants to be more than a “visitor.” He wants to take up residence and impact our lives both singularly and as a community!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!