I had plans to do “stuff” today, but Brett had a headache and while I felt fine, I joined him in a “day off”.  I didn’t entirely waste my day.  At about 10am I was outside in my pj’s and unkempt hair watering my garden, hand pollinating the cucumbers just in case the bees didn’t get around to it and tying up the tomato vines.  I live on a dead-end street with just one house past ours so I felt pretty safe that no one would drive  by and see me so late in the morning without a shower.  Wrong assumption.  A couple of people drove up wanting to see Brett, who was in bed, so I did my best to be polite to people who dared to stop by without calling first!  I drug Brett out of bed to entertain the visitors and hopped into the shower.  At about 7pm we had another unexpected visitor.  After a day of wasting time on the computer and fixing meals, but not washing the dishes and not having picked up after Aspen yet,  I was embarrassed for someone we barely know to drop by.  It was my own fault I hadn’t straightened up, but I was annoyed and not in the mood to be polite to the person ringing the door bell.  He was obviously here to see Brett, who was still in bed with a headache.  I opened the door, told him I would get Brett and once again drug Brett out of bed.

What did I learn from this experience?  Besides the fact that I should be more hospitable,  I have concluded that I should always be ready and never take a “day off”.    Which sounds extreme, but todays experience reminded me of the story of the “Ten Virgins”:

MATTHEW 25:1-13 NIV

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep“ (vs.1-5).

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No, ‘they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut“ (vs.6-10).

“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘ I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour wherein the Son of man comes“ (vs.11-13).