It was just a regular afternoon in a day of ordinary errands, commonplace chores, and unending piles of laundry. I came in the door with my keys in my hand having just returned from another carpool adventure at the school. My mind was already thinking ahead about how to answer the inevitable “what’s for dinner?” question when I saw her. Standing in the middle of my living room was my daughter from out-of-state. She unexpectedly had a couple of days off and decided a surprise visit home was in order. I squealed. She smiled. And in record time we were hugging and dancing around the room.
We grinned and talked as she poured out her story of making the journey and anticipating the look of surprise on our faces. As she was telling me her tale, my thoughts started going down the list. Were there clean sheets on the bed? Fresh towels in the bath? Had I dusted recently? Did I need to find an extra blanket?
Her sweet surprise and my list of questions turned my thoughts to Jesus. He has made a promise that He is going to keep. There is going to come a day when He arrives unannounced. The day and the time will be a surprise. The question is – will I be ready?
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” – 2 Peter 3:10-11
My Jesus Resolution today is to be ready. I can’t wait to see my Redeemer. I long to hear His voice, see His face, and bow at His feet. I look forward to the moment of final transformation as He completes the work He has begun in me. The moment will come as a surprise in the middle of an ordinary, regular, nothing-special kind of day. But knowing that surprise is coming should shape the priorities that fill today, and allow hope and anticipation to bubble under the surface of the laundry, cleaning, deadlines, and bills. What do you need to do to be ready for His surprise?
Casandra Martin 
Wow, really good comparison.