Just then the back door opened and a man came walking down the aisle. The minister frowned as he saw that the man had not shaved in a while and his shirt was kind a shabby and his coat was worn and frayed. The man quietly knelt at the alter and bowed his head. Suddenly he rose and quickly walked. away.
In the days that followed, as each noon-time approached, in came this chap, each time he knelt for just for a brief moment with his lunch pail in his lap.
The minister's suspicions grew and with robbery as the main fear, he minister decided to stop the man and ask him what he was doing here.
The old man said that he worked down the road. Lunch was just half an hour long and lunchtime was his prayer time. It was his time for finding peace and strength.
"I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; as I kneel. here talking to the Lord, This is kind a what I say: "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SINS. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY."
The minister, feeling foolish, told Jim that it was fine that he came in each day to pray. He told Jim that he was more than welcome to come in and pray any time he wanted. Lunchtime was almost over and it was time to go, Jim smiled and said, "Thanks" as he hurried out the door.
The minister knelt before the altar, and prayed like he had never done before. As he began to pray his cold heart began to melt away and it filled with the warmth of love. And for the first time he felt as though he was really communing with Jesus. As hot tears flowed from his eyes, deep in his heart he felt Jesus's love as he repeated old Jim's prayer: "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SINS. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY."
One day, a little past noon, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come in as usual. As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry so he went down to the factory where Jim said he worked and he asked about him. He learned that he was ill and in the hospital.
After arriving at the hospital, the minister had learned that the staff was worried about Jim, but since his arrival he had given them all a life-changing experience.
During Jim's stint at the hospital, there had been many changes in the ward brought about by him. His joyful attitude and smiles were contagious and it changed the people that were here. Jim needed no thank because the changes in the people was his reward.
The head nurse could not understand
why Jim was so happy all the time when no flowers, calls, or cards came. There was not a single visitor who came by to see old Jim.
The minister stayed by Jim's bed, and he voiced the nurse's concern: No friends
came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn.
Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile said, "The nurse is
wrong, she couldn't know, that HE is in here all the while, everyday at noon HE is here with me, a dear friend of mine, you see, HE sits right down, takes my hand, and HE leans over and says to me: "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SINS. I ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY."
If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart!
May God hold you in the palm of HIS hand and Angels watch over you.
Please pass this on to your friends and loved ones, if you aren't ashamed.
Jesus said, " If you are ashamed of me," I will be ashamed of you before my Father."
If you are not ashamed, pass this on. But only if you mean it.
So this is me ... Just Checking In ... In God we trust!
No comments:
Post a Comment