I`m sure most here have heard this story, but I read it for the first time today and it touched my heart. Oh that we all could see how much the Lord loves us.
Mom`s Empty Chair
A woman`s daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her mother. When the minister arrived,he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped up on 2 pillows. An emty chair sat beside her bed. The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit....."I guess you were expecting me, he said.
"No, who are you?" said the mother. The minister told her 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 woman. "Would you mind closing the door?" "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the woman "But all my life I have never known how to pray. At the church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it just went over my head...."
"I abandoned any attempt at prayer," continued the old woman, "Until one day about 4 years ago, my best friend said to me, "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 sitting in the chair. It`s not spooky because he promised, "I will be with you always...." " Then just speak with Him just as we are doing now..."
"So I tried it and liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I`m careful not to let my daughter see me speaking to the chair though....she might think I have had a mental breakdown and send me off to the funny farm." The minister was moved by the story and prayed with the woman, encouraging her to continue with her sessions. Then he returned to his church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her mom had died that afternoon. Did she die in peace? He asked. Yes, I left the house about 2:00PM, she called me over to the bed, kissed me, and told me that she loved me. When I returned from the store an hour later, I found her.
But there was something strange about her death. Apparently, just befor mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on that empty chair she kept by her bed. What do you make of that?
The minister , with tears in his eyes, said, " I wish I could go like that."
Our relationship with the Lord is so grand, but at the same time, so simple. Just place your head in his lap and let him hold you. All will be well with your soul.
Happy moments, praise God
Difficult moments, seek God
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God
Every moment, thank God
Charlie
