Sunday, May 04, 2008

If Jesus Came To Your House

Something at church today triggered my thoughts to this poem. It was written many years ago by my Aunt Lois. I am not sure what year she wrote the poem, but the book I have it in was published in 1956. There are many other poems written by her in the book that are outstanding.

This one was found by someone who put it to a song and it became popular because of the song.

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two,
If He came unexpectedly,I wonder what you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there-
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But- when you saw Him coming,would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change some things before you let Him in,
Like- hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?

Or turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard,
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in,or would you rush about?

And I wonder- if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continueas it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace,
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing,and read the books you read
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go,
Or would you maybe change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends,
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.
© Lois Blanchard Eades

2 comments:

Shawn Gray said...

Loved this. Glad I read it.

JPShannonJr. said...

Dear Ms. Collins --

The earliest printed version of "If Jesus Came to Your House" -- which I have been able to find -- dates from November of 1955 and may be seen here: http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/digital/ww/WW4911/W4911241.HTM

I got from the Holy Spirit to do this song in church in two weeks. I had never even heard of it before, and so I am doing some research.

If you please, is your aunt still alive?

Yours in Christ,
JPShannonJr.
www.jpshannonjr.com
jpshannonjr@comcast.net