“There’s a house…..on that street over near the DQ on the way home, you know? Well, they had Jesus up on the roof! I could scarce believe my eyes…..up on the roof–JESUS!”
“Jesus on the roof, huh? That’s different.”
“But it’s for Christmas! I think it’s kind of cool…..definitely different. He wasn’t all lit up when I passed by this morning, but early this evening, there he was, lights all shining! I’m betting airplanes could see him from the sky!”
“Airplanes? Must not have been baby Jesus–they had a grown-up Jesus, up on the roof? For Christmas?” The disbelief in the tone of the questions made me realize we weren’t on the same wavelength. And I laughed.
“Nooooo. Jesus is on the roof. J. E. S. U. S. In LIGHTS. For all the world to see. Isn’t that awesome?”
“Well, it’s definitely different…..”
A conversation that took place many years ago came to mind today as I traveled down an old road from the past. As I turned beside the Dairy Queen, I remembered that house. And those lights on the roof. And I wondered if I would remember which house it had been that kept the lights up there all year long, but only turned them on around Christmas.
As I rounded the corner…..was it that one, no, the slant on the roof was wrong, it was just a little further, and then…..
there it was.
AND THERE JESUS WAS.
Still up there.
For the love.
The leaves from the fading trees helped outline the letters. I could just make out the letters against the brown roof.
And I smiled SO big.
That right there brought me so much joy.
Something that hadn’t changed after all those many, many years.
Years of heartbreak and pain and loss and tears and joys and love and light.
Something that hadn’t changed one little bit…..
and looka there–
it’s JESUS.
Still the same.
Right where he’s always been.
Up high for all to see.
Shedding light.
Tonight I’m thankful for the things and people who are constant in my life. Changes are a part of life, but the people and places and Lights who don’t change bring me joy and peace and also bring back happy memories.
And Jesus on the roof? I think that’s pretty awesome. Someone showed a lot of love and skill and Christmas spirit about twenty years ago, and it is still bringing me joy.
May we all do something today that will bring joy to others for years to come…..
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 