The Visitors Book

Kellan's light show!



Each year, sometime during the Christmas season, we would make our annual visit to an old farm house that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. At dark we would put the kids in the car and head out into the country, down winding dark roads and directed only by my husband’s memory of how we got there last year. Finally, we would begin to see a glow in the sky that always meant we were close to our destination. The couple who owned the house in the country would put out thousands of lights (there was always a sign that said how many) that brought people from miles around. It was an unofficial "Festival of Lights" that thrilled all who took time to visit.

After driving around the glittering display we were welcomed into the old house for cider and hospitality. We always had to sign the visitors book that lay on it’s special table and the couple would always rush over and bring attention to those who had traveled for miles to see their special Christmas lights. They would nearly burst with pride when someone from across the country would find their way to sign their visitor book. One signature I remember them being especially proud of was from London, England.

Though this sight was a delightful array of everything Christmas, it could never compare to what the shepherds beheld that night so long ago, when the sky lit up as if it were day with angels singing and praising God. Can you imagine what the poor shepherds must have thought? In fact the bible says they were frightened but the angels were sure to comfort this straggly bunch by saying "Fear not!".

But the angel said to the, "Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." Luke 2:10-14

Can you imagine the size of the visitors book the shepherds would have needed to hold all the signatures of all the heavenly hosts that showed up for this light show? Can you see Gabriel’s name there written boldly and in the address column would be written “Heaven”? Quite a distance to come for these visitors, I would say.

The bible says they were all praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men…..! What a sight that must have been for the poor shepherds, the least among men. But isn’t that just like God to show up in undeserving lives like yours and mine?  What hope and joy the shepherds beheld in this heavenly light show! What an overwhelming blessing for them, of all people, to later behold the baby Jesus lying in a manger just as the angels had said.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth Peace among men!  Amen