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>>>>
>>>> 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, ya 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 kind of 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.
>>>>
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This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!).
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, and 3) and have recently completed my college degree.
The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called "Smile."
The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.
It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.
I did not move an inch, an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling".
His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.
He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.
He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.
I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.
We are not church goers, but we are believers.
That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.
I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it.
Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send this to everyone you know.
There is an Angel sent to watch over you.
In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over.
An Angel wrote:
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head.
To handle others, use your heart.
God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.
Keep this going.