> >>>A minister passing through his church
> >>>
> >>>in the middle of the day,
> >>>
> >>>Decided to pause by the altar
> >>>
> >>>and see who had come to pray.
> >>>
> >>>Just then the back door opened,
> >>>
> >>>a man came down the aisle,
> >>>
> >>>The minister frowned as he saw
> >>>
> >>>the man hadn't shaved in a while.
> >>>
> >>>His shirt was kind a shabby
> >>>
> >>>and his coat was worn and frayed,
> >>>
> >>>the man knelt, he bowed his head,
> >>>
> >>>Then rose and walked away.
> >>>
> >>>In the days that followed,
> >>>
> >>>each noon time came this chap,
> >>>
> >>>each time he knelt just for a moment,
> >>>
> >>>A lunch pail in his lap.
> >>>
> >>>Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
> >>>
> >>>with robbery a main fear,
> >>>
> >>>He decided to stop the man and ask him,
> >>>
> >>>"What are you doing here?"
> >>>
> >>>The old man said, he worked down the road.
> >>>
> >>>Lunch was half an hour.
> >>>
> >>>Lunchtime was his prayer time,
> >>>
> >>>For finding strength and power.
> >>>
> >>>"I stay only moments, see,
> >>>
> >>>because the factory is so far away;
> >>>
> >>>as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
> >>>
> >>>This is kind a what I say:
> >>>
> >>>"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
> >>>
> >>>HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
> >>>
> >>>SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP
> >>>
> >>>AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
> >>>
> >>>DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
> >>>
> >>>BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
> >>>
> >>>SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM
> >>>
> >>>CHECKING IN TODAY."
> >>>
> >>>The minister feeling foolish,
> >>>
> >>>told Jim, that was fine.
> >>>
> >>>He told the man he was welcome
> >>>
> >>>To come and pray just anytime.
> >>>
> >>>Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks."
> >>>
> >>>He hurried to the door.
> >>>
> >>>The minister knelt at the altar,
> >>>
> >>>he'd never done it before.
> >>>
> >>>His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
> >>> and met with Jesus there.
> >>> As the tears flowed, in his heart,
> >>>
> >>>he repeated old Jim's prayer:
> >>>
> >>>"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
> >>>
> >>>HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
> >>>
> >>>SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP
> >>>
> >>>AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT
> >>>I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
> >>>
> >>>SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY."
> >>>
> >>>Past noon one day, the minister noticed
> >>>
> >>>that old Jim hadn't come.
> >>>
> >>>As more days passed without Jim,
> >>>
> >>>he began to worry some.
> >>>
> >>>At the factory, he asked about him,
> >>> learning he was ill.
> >>>
> >>>The hospital staff was worried,
> >>> But he'd given them a thrill.
> >>>
> >>>The week that Jim was with them,
> >>>
> >>>Brought changes in the ward.
> >>>
> >>>His smiles, a joy contagious.
> >>>
> >>>Changed people, were his reward.
> >>>
> >>>The head nurse couldn't understand
> >>>
> >>>why Jim was so glad,
> >>>
> >>>when no flowers, calls or cards came,
> >>>
> >>>Not a visitor he had.
> >>>
> >>>The minister stayed by his bed,
> >>>
> >>>He voiced the nurse's concern:
> >>>
> >>>No friends came to show they cared.
> >>>
> >>>He had nowhere to turn.
> >>>
> >>>Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
> >>> up and with a winsome smile;
> >>>
> >>>"the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
> >>>
> >>>that in here all the while
> >>>everyday at noon He's here,
> >>>
> >>>a dear friend of mine, you see,
> >>>
> >>>He sits right down, takes my hand,
> >>>
> >>>Leans over and says to me:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
> >>>
> >>>HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
> >>>
> >>>SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,
> >>>
> >>>AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
> >>>
> >>>ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
> >>> I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,
> >>>AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS
> >>>
> >>>CHECKING IN TODAY."
> >>>
> >>>