Day 24
Scripture: Malachi 3:1
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
Story from the Blue Seats:
When we first read Malachi 3:1, the idea of preparing the way for the Lord sounded grand and distant, something biblical heroes like John the Baptist did in deserts with crowds of people. But for us, that call to “prepare” arrived one ordinary evening over dinner. The news was heartbreaking—a family displaced by violence, far from home, with nowhere to go. They had lost everything, from their house to the life they had built, and now they needed more than a roof over their heads. They needed a place to belong.
As we sat there, processing what we’d heard, the thought hit us: What if we prepared a place for them in our home?
At first, it felt overwhelming. We weren’t particularly well-equipped for something like this. We had many live with us before but this was different. Our home wasn’t sprawling but an average house with enough room. Yet the tug in our hearts was undeniable. “Let’s do it,” we said, unsure of what the next year would bring.
The preparation began immediately. We cleaned out the guest room, filling it with things that might bring comfort—soft blankets, fresh flowers, and little reminders that this was now a place of rest, a safe haven. We rearranged schedules, pared down our own routines, and made space in more ways than one. Looking back, I realize how much that time of preparation wasn’t just about the physical home; it was about preparing our hearts to welcome strangers as family.
When they arrived,—there were no grand introductions, just shy smiles and a quiet gratitude that spoke volumes as they made their way to their new room. At first, we worried about how we would communicate; we didn’t share the same culture. But over time, we learned that kindness and patience are a universal dialect. Through shared meals and laughter, we built a bond that transcended words even to this day.
We learned so much in that year. We learned how resilient the human spirit can be, even after unimaginable loss. We learned the beauty of cultural exchange—how their traditions enriched ours, how their food, music, and stories brought a vibrancy we hadn’t known before. We also learned about sacrifice, about what it truly means to put others first, and how love can expand in ways you never thought possible.
There were challenges, of course. There were moments of tension and of misunderstandings. But those moments became opportunities—to practice grace, to forgive, and to lean on God for strength and wisdom.
As the year drew to a close, the family began to rebuild their lives in their own space. Saying goodbye was bittersweet, but it was also a moment of joy. They left not as strangers but as lifelong friends. And as they moved forward, so did we—changed, humbled, and with a deeper understanding of what it means to prepare the way for the Lord.
Malachi 3:1 reminds us that preparing the way isn’t always dramatic or public. Sometimes, it’s as simple—and as profound—as opening your home to someone in need. By making space, we found that we were the ones who were transformed. Preparing for their arrival taught us what it means to truly love our neighbors and to create a space where God’s presence can dwell—not just in our home, but in our hearts.
