[StBernard] DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR

[Westley Annis]

What a beautiful story

 

Rena

 

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. 

Pass this message to seven people except you and me.  You will receive a
miracle tomorrow.