Title: Checking in
Category: happy
Blog Entry: A minister passing through his church > in the middle of the day, > Decided to pause by the altar > and see who had come to pray. > > Just then the back door opened, > a man came down the aisle, > The minister frowned as he saw > the man hadn't shaved in a while. > > His shirt was kind a shabby > and his coat was worn and frayed, > > the man knelt, he bowed his head, > > Then rose and walked away. > > In the days that followed, > each noon time came this chap, > each time he knelt just for a moment, > A lunch pail in his lap. > > Well, the minister's suspicions grew, > with robbery a main fear, > He decided to stop the man and ask him, "What are you doing here?" > > The old man said, he worked down the road. > Lunch was half an hour. > Lunchtime was his prayer time, > For finding strength and power. > > > > "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 OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK > AWAY MY SIN. 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 was fine. > He told the man he was welcome > To come and pray just anytime > > Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks." > He hurried to the door. > > > The minister knelt at the altar, > he'd never done it before. > > His cold heart melted, warmed with love, > and met with Jesus there. > As the tears flowed, in his heart, > he repeated old Jim's prayer: > > "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, > HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK > AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU > EVERYDAY. > > > SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY." > > Past noon one day, the minister noticed > that old Jim hadn't come. > As more days passed without Jim, > he began to worry some. > > At the factory, he asked about him, > learning he was ill. > > The hospital staff was worried, > But he'd given them a thrill. > > The week that Jim was with them, > Brought changes in the ward. > His smiles, a joy contagious. > Changed people, were his reward. > > The head nurse couldn't understand > why Jim was so glad, > when no flowers, calls or cards came, > Not a visitor he had. > > The minister stayed by his bed, > 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; > "the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, > that he's in here all the while > > > everyday at noon He's here, > a dear friend of mine, you see, > He sits right down, takes my hand, > 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 SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, > I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN > TODAY."
VIEW FULL VERSION: Link