As an obedient daughter I heeded my mother’s warning never to answer the door. This is sound advice for a youngster in London, but no good for an aspiring Christian. As Christians we are instructed to treat everyone we meet in life as if they were Christ Himself. Especially those we don’t know, or feel comfortable around or recognize.
My mother never answered the door unless she was expecting someone.
No-one was ever granted entrance to the narrow hallway of our Georgian mews cottage unless they had an appointment, or were expected. My brother and I gained access each afternoon at precisely 3:50pm, two sharp knocks on the metal door knocker and we were in! Vary the knock and we were ignored. As conspirators on the inside of the knocked door we were given instructions to be quiet until the offending stranger/would be intruder, skulked away. If the person on the doorstep was persistent we could spy on them from upstairs or from the front room window through the net curtains; sometimes we were treated to a few choice words yelled at us through the door or in the general direction of the fluttering gossamer,
“I know you’re in there,” we’d pull away from the windows, “open up, it will only take a few minutes of your time!” Travelling salesmen were a breed of their own.
Curiously even if it was someone we knew my mother would never admit entrance if it was an unannounced visit.
Never Surprise the Baggarleys
was our motto, you had to have an appointment! Always call first, if only to borrow a cup of sugar. Given five minutes to put on her powder and lipstick, change out of her trousers and t-shirt into her dress and heels my mother was ready for anyone…
except the travelling salesman!
If I inherited my mother’s distrust of droppers-in the current cultural social climate has worked to my advantage;
no-one has time to drop-in anymore!
My house is always ready for a visitor, announced or not and I don’t care what state of dishabille I am in. As long as I know you, I’ll let you in.
Only, what if it’s God? What if God sends me someone I don’t know who wants something from me, a cup of water, a piece of clothing, some food? The bible tells of the great judgment when the Father says,
“When I was a stranger you welcomed me …”
And the people ask,
“Lord when did we see you as a stranger and welcomed you…..?”
And He answers,
“Whenever you did so to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
Unless the stranger has called ahead I’ll ever the obedient daughter be.
I may not open my front door to everyone who knocks but I can offer a smile and a few words to the person in line with me at Sainsbury’s, or crushed against me on the tube.
My mother’s lesson was as much about safety as it was about inconvenience.
I think I need to be inconvenienced. The next time I am interrupted by a knocking of any sort I will ask,
“Jesus, is that you again?”
And offer what I can.
(Originally written November 26th, 2005)
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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