The Very Best Welcome Gift

 

Whatever house you enter,

first say,

   "Peace be to this house!"

And if a son of peace is there,

   your peace 

           will rest upon him.

But if not,

          it will return to you.

               Luke 10. 5-6

(When we bring peace with us,

   it cannot help

   but change our hearts

                 and responses

   and sometimes

      the entire situation.

Either way is a blessing.

Whatever house, whatever situation,

before we even cross the threshold,

          always bring peace

          as a welcome gift.

It may change others,

and turn the situation around,

   but it always changes us,

       how we respond to circumstances,

       and how we treat others.

What if we claimed peace first

    wherever we enter?

We wear a newly strengthened heart.

Not that we change anything,

         but God does.

What is my attitude

         in this hard situation

    or unknown space?

Peace and grace

          defuse ammunition

  and always

        take others by surprise.)

O LORD,

Help us to realize that

  every appointment is divine,

  every encounter is sacred,

and we have no idea

     how You are using us here.

May Your peace

        soften our hearts

  and radically change

         our bad-itudes.

Your peace

    You have given us.

Let Your aroma linger

   wherever we go.