Christmas Eve Visitors…

When you live on an Alternate County Highway, you come to expect unusual visitors. We have been visited by a gray fox pair, gray fox momma and kits, deer, possum, and armadillo (tripping over that fellow scared both of us equally!). Plus we also have seen your typical assortment of birds and squirrels. And, of course I can’t forget our neighbors the donkeys next door and the goats across the road!

I was in our prayer room when Denise asked me this morning what that noise was. I had assumed it was noise from the kitchen. So I got up and what to my wondering eyes did appear? Nope! Not a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. Although if they showed up here, I wouldn’t be surprised at all!

The noise we heard was being made by eight Guinea Fowl! That is a picture of some of them at the top of this blog. Of course we had to look at the bird book and consult friends on FaceBook to verify what they were. Needless to say, they were completely unexpected and provided an hour of amusement for Denise, Christopher (her/our youngest) and me.

Often one expects Christmas visitors to come with goodies or carols or good cheer. And now I guess you can add to that list the Christmas Guinea Fowl! At the house Denise and Christopher are knee deep in cooking and preparation for the arrival of Denise’s parents and her brother, sister-in-law, nieces and the last minute Christmas Shopper, Chase (her/our middle son). And I have been working on Christmas Eve worship preparation, doing the dishes (much better than having me cooking!), and blogging.

It is easy in the midst of all the preparation to forget why we do what we do on Christmas Eve. So tonight we will pause to remember the Angelic visitors, Shepherds, and the wonder of a new born King. We will hear the familiar Scripture readings and sing the familiar carols. We will also break bread at the Lord’s table and light the candles of Christmas.

I have been reminded though that for some Christmas is tinged with sadness, grief, loneliness, depression, or fear. My prayer is that as we lift these folks in prayer and reach out to them with encouragement, that the light which overcomes all darkness will shine in their lives as well. I think of my son Alec in Minnesota… Missing him especially at this time of year. And I also remember my sisters and brothers in arms who will observe Christmas in distant lands where violence and warfare are the norm. Yet even there, I can attest from my own life that the light of this Holy Night can and does break in.

So, whether your visitors are Guinea Fowl or family and friends, my prayer is for each one of you that they will warm you and the light of Christ will shine in your heart as a result. In the words of Clement C. Moore–“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”