THE LETTER
Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She
picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the
envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address.
She read the letter:
Dear Ruth,
I'm going to be in your neighbourhood Saturday afternoon and
I'd like to stop by for a visit.
Love Always,
Jesus
Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table.
"Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have
anything to offer." With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen
cabinets.
"Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll
have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached
for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents.
"Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw
on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of french bread, a half-pound
of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total
of twelve cents to last her until Monday.
Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings
tucked under her arm. "Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth had been
so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled
in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more
than rags.
"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have
been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and
we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us, lady, we'd
really appreciate it."
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad
and, frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if
they really wanted to.
"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All
I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest
for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."
"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man
put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back
into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge
in her heart. "Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down
the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure
out something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.
"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"
"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see
now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home.
Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped
it over the woman's shoulders.
Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without
her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.
"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and
worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything
to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she
did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's odd. The
mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."
She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.
Dear Ruth,
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely
meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
Love Always
Jesus
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
noticed.
THIS IS A SIMPLE TEST.......
If you love Jesus, send this to all the people u know
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Heaven's Child As I lie in darkness scared,
I call upon your name.
A peace flows through my being,
As You answer my heart of shame.
I cry out to you for mercy
And joy returns to me.
Your hands will lead and guide me,
Your eyes will always see.
I strive to do your bidding,
Though I never will succeed.
My life will never be perfect,
Though I wish that it could be.
Through mistakes and sins
You lead me home.
You forgive me again,
Then send me back to roam.
You sent your only Son
To die and pay for me.
What love you've shown to us,
To those who choose to see.
Your love is always there,
Merciful and true.
Your peace is always around me,
A subtle reminder of You.
To my Father up above, I give you all I am.
This small and tiny sacrifice,
I put into your hands.
Mold me and shape me
To resemble your Child.
Guide me and direct me
Over many, many miles.