Daddy's Empty Chair
Jun 23, 2008 | 4:33AM
DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR > > A man's daughter had asked the local minister > > to come and pray with her father.. > > When the minister arrived, > > he found the man lying in bed with his head > > propped up on two pillows. > > An empty chair sat beside his bed. > > The minister assumed that the old fellow > > had been informed of his visit. > > 'I guess you were expecting me', he said. > > 'No, who are you?' said the father. > > The minister told him his name and then remarked, > > 'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew > > I was going to show up.' > > 'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden man. > > 'Would you mind closing the door?' > > Puzzled, the minister shut the door. > > 'I have never told anyone this, > > not even my daughter,' said the man. > > 'But all of my life I have never > > known how to pray. > > At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, > > but it went right over my head.' > > I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' > > the old man continued, ' > > until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, > > 'Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter > > of having a conversation with Jesus.' > > Here is what I suggest: > > 'Sit down in a chair; > > place an empty chair in front of you, > > and in faith see Jesus on the chair. > > It's not spooky because he promised, > > 'I will be with you always'. > > 'Then just speak to him in the same way > > you're doing with me right now.' > > 'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much > > that I do it a couple of hours every day. > > I'm careful though. > > If my daughter saw me talking > > to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown > > or send me off to the funny farm.' > > The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the >old man to continue on the journey. > > Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, > > and returned to the church. > > Two nights later the daughter called > > to tell the minister that her daddy > > had died that afternoon. > > Did he die in peace?' he asked. > > Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, > > he called me over to his bedside, > > told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. > > When I got back from the store an hour later, > > I found him > > But there was something strange about his death. > > Apparently, just before Daddy died, > > he leaned over and rested his head on the chair > > beside the bed. What do you make of that?' > > The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, > > 'I wish we could all go like that.' > > Just send this to four people or more, > > and do not break this, please. > > Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. > > I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.* > > I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.* > > I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU... > > If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. > > Happy moments, praise God. > > Difficult moments, seek God. > > Quiet moments, worship God > > Painful moments, trust God. > > Every moment, thank God.
|