MOM'S
> EMPTY CHAIR
>
> A woman's daughter had asked the local minister
> to come and pray with her mother.

> When the minister arrived, he
found the woman lying in bed with her head
> propped up on two pillows.
>
An empty chair sat beside her bed.
>
> The minister assumed that the woman
> had been informed of his visit.
>
> 'I guess you were expecting me", he said.
> 'No, who are you?' said the mother.
>
> The minister told her 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 woman.
> 'Would you mind closing the door?'
> Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
> 'I have never told anyone this
> not even my daughter,' said the
> woman.'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 woman continued, 'until
> one day four years ago, my best friend said to me,
> '
> Prayer is just a simple matter
> of having a conversation with
> Jesus. Here is what i syggest.
>
> '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 in the same way
> you're doing with me right now.'
>
> 'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much
> thatI 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 woman to continue on the journey.
> Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil,
> and returned to the church.
>
> Two nights later the daughter called
> to tell the minister that her mamma
> had died that afternoon.
>
> Did she die in peace?' he asked.
>
> Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock,
> she called me over to her bedside,told
> me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek.
> When I got back from the store an hour later,
> I found her .
>
> But there was something strange about her death
> Apparently, just before Mom died,she
> leaned over and rested her 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.'
>
> Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
>
> 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...
>
> If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
>
> Happy moments, praise God.
>
> Difficult moments, seek God.
>
> Quiet moments,worship God
>
> Painful moments,trust God
>
> Every moment, thank God.

Amen! God is always there at your side!