Daddy's empty chair

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 like you are to me 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 dead. 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." 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... Baby Lori My Whitney & VA My angeletts ~~> Whitney & VA (I have the best s ever!) 8 days and a wake up

Beautiful, Lori..... Melissa**ultimate giggler**

6 days post op and I'm more emotional tha usual....tears just streaming here ..... Rachel

Lori, How beautiful, I loved it. Thank you friend for posting it. Love ya, Betty

I love that Lori, I had heard it before and everytime, it brings tears to my eyes. I hope to be that connected in my faith when it is my time. Love Ya Whitney Angels Lori and Va Angelettes Lori and Va OMG I just have a wake up left

Wow, Lori...lovely. I just read it to Queen Mum, as I was 'checking' on the facts of the following personal experience: My maternal Grandma lived with us and died at our home when I was just a pre-teen (I wasn't "allowed" in on that stuff, my parents tried to protect me as much as possible from the evils and heartaches of the world). She was such a Godly woman...hence, my Mother (the apple don't fall too far from the tree, me thinks..."bring up a child in the way they should go..."). Well, Mom told me that when she found Grandma in her bed, Grandma was laying on her back (she never slept on her back), looking up/out of the window, with the most pleasant look on her face. When a Christian dies, angels escort them to heaven, and I believe that my Grandma SAW them coming for her...and was smiling, waiting to go home. How exciting. What EXACTLY did she SEE?!?!? Wow...haven't thought 'bout that in years...now I'VE got tears flowing... Kimmer Queen of the Niners, Instigator to All Marchers, High Priestess of Giggles