The Visitors Book

Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.

After our mother passed away, my sisters and I had the task of sorting through her belongings. Whilst the majority of our mother’s household items were passed on to charity, there were sentimental objects that remained far too precious for us to ever give away. One of those items I happened to come across while sorting through an old brown suitcase. In my hand I held something very familiar to me. A simple black book with the word “visitors” embossed in gold on the font cover.

This book held the names of various families and friends who graced our home during my childhood. It was a precious time capsule containing the dates, names and comments left all those years ago. Most of the names I remembered fondly, other names were not that familiar to me. This little book revealed so much more than just names, because not only did it record our visitors, but it also gave an insight toward the love and hospitality of my parents as reflected in the remarks left by our guests.

This little book is truly a treasure – a window from where we can glance back to a time long gone. Special celebrations; birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, weddings, and baptism days. Unexpected visits from friends on holiday, aunties, uncles, cousins, as well as boyfriends and girlfriends. Then, as our family expanded, new entries began to appear. Names penned in big, bold, clumsy, topsy-turvy writing of grandchildren and at the other end of the scale, elderly visitors, their age betraying them by the slight quiver within carefully crafted cursive script. I had stumbled across a true family treasure of unique moments captured forever.

I know of another book filled with names; this book is the most precious of all books. No person has seen this book for its pages are only privy to the eyes of God. He sees whose names are written in this book and it is with his hand that they are recorded, not in ink, but in blood, the blood of a lamb. The holy precious Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

And unlike my family book, God’s book is not merely a record of visitors, instead it is a record of all who are residents. The names in this book are those who trusted faithfully in the promises of Jesus. And now, the fruit of their faithfulness will be this, no longer visitors passing through, but one day citizens of heaven.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and faithfulness toward us, keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting him and looking forward to our heavenly home with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

About the Author

Dee Simons

I was born in the Wimmera district of Victoria (Minyip) and raised in the Western District of Victoria. My husband, Bruce, and I have been blessed with three children. We have recently been gifted with our first grandchild. Our home is situated in the scenic township of Dunkeld and we are members at Trinity Lutheran Church, Warrayure. During the week you will find me behind the front desk at Good Shepherd Lutheran College in Hamilton. I have worked at the college over the past 17 years. I wish to acknowledge my family – often the first to hear a new devotion, and all those people who encouraged and inspired me to keep writing, giving me opportunity to share these words. Finally, I thank and give all glory to God, who I know, without any doubt or hesitation, is the one who holds my pen. Often after I finish a devotion and read back over the words, I am flabbergasted that I actually wrote them. I know that there is a higher power directing my thoughts to paper. The Holy Spirit is at work here and I am always emotionally touched when I think that this God would even contemplate to use me to do his work. That is the true miracle. My prayer is that God will bless you through these devotions.