DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR

الاحد, 26 يوليو, 2009

> 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 
> > YOU...
> > > > Happy moments, praise God.
> > > > Difficult 
> > moments, seek God.
> > > > Quiet moments, worship God.
> > > > 
> > Painful moments, trust God..
> > > > Every moment, thank God.
>