Go to: => TOP Page;  What's New?;   ROAD MAP;   Contact Us;   Search Page;   Emmaus Ministries Page

Jesus' Visit

[COMMENT:   This came in one of those awful "send it on to xxx number of people, and you will be blessed!"  emails.  But this story is a wonderful parable.  So I am sending it on to you.     E. Fox] 

Ruth
went to her mail box and there was only one letter. 

She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the
envelope again. 

There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. 

She read the letter: 

Dear Ruth: 

I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for
a visit. 

Love Always, 

Jesus 

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table... 'Why would the Lord
want to visit me? 

I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer.'

With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.  

'Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to
the store and buy something for dinner.' 

She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty
cents. 

Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least.' 

She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. 

A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of
milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday.. 

Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm. 

'Hey lady, can you help us, lady?' 

Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures
huddled in the alleyway. 

A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags. 

'Look lady, I ain't got a job, you know, and my wife and I have been living out here
on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda 
Hungry and, well, if you could help us.. Lady, we'd really appreciate it.' 

Ruth looked at them both. 

They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get
some kind of work if they really wanted to... 

'Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold
cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I
was planning on serving that to Him.' 

'Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway.' 

The man put his arm around the woman's 
Shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley. 

As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart. 

'Sir, wait!' 

The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them.. 

'Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my
guest...' 

She handed the man her grocery bag.. 

'Thank you lady. Thank you very much!' 

'Yes, thank you!' It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was
shivering 

'You know, I've got another coat at home. 
Here, why don't you take this one.' 

Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. 
Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with
nothing to serve her guest.. 

'Thank you lady! 

Thank you very much!' 

Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. 
The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. 

She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another
envelope in her mailbox. 

'That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day.' 

Dear Ruth: 
It was so good to see you again. 
Thank you for the lovely meal. 
 And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat. 
Love Always, Jesus 

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Date Posted - 11/22/2011   -   Date Last Edited - 11/22/2011