THE LETTER Ruth went to her mailbox 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 postage mark, only her name and address on it. She read the letter. Dear Ruth, I am going to be in your neighbourhood and I would like to visit you. Love always, Jesus. Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on her 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 shops to buy something for dinner.” Ruth reached for her purse and counted the contents – two pounds. “Well I can buy some bread and cold meat at least.” She threw on her coat and hurried out of the door. A loaf of bread, some sliced turkey and a carton of milk, leaving Ruth only 8 pence to last until Monday. Nonetheless Ruth felt good as she headed home, her meagre offering tucked under her arm. “Hey lady, can you help us, lady?” Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans she did not even notice the two figures huddled in the alley, a man and woman both dressed in little more than rags. “Look lady, I aren’t got a job and we’re both hungry. If you could help us we’d really appreciate it? Ruth looked at them both, they were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly she was certain they could get some kind of work if they really tried. “Sir, I’d like to help but I’m a poor woman myself. All I have is a little cold meat some bread and milk, I’m expecting an important guest for dinner.” “O.K. lady, we understand. Thanks anyway.” The man put his arm around the woman’s shoulders, turned and headed down the alley. As Ruth watched she felt a familiar twinge in her heart. “Sir wait!” The couple stopped as Ruth ran towards them. “Look why don’t you take this food, I’ll figure out something else to serve my guest.” Ruth handed him her grocery bag. “Thank you lady, thank you so very much.” “Yes thank you, thank you very much.” It was the woman speaking and Ruth could see that she was shivering. “You know I have another coat at home. Here why don’t you take this one.” Ruth unbuttoned her coat and slipped it onto the woman’s shoulders then, smiling, she turned around and walked back to the street without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest. “Thank you lady, thank you very much” they called. Ruth was very chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she had nothing to offer him. She fumbled through her purse for her door key – but as she did she noticed an envelope in her mailbox. “That’s odd, the postman doesn’t usually come twice in one day.” Ruth opened the envelope, Dear Ruth, It was good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal and thank you for the beautiful coat too. Love always Jesus. The air was so cold but, even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 19:30:34 +0000
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