~Daddy's Empty ~Daddy's Empty Chair~Chair~

A man's daughter had A man's daughter had asked the local priest to asked the local priest to come and pray with hercome and pray with her

father.father.

When the priest arrived, he found When the priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows.propped up on two pillows.

An empty chair sat beside his bed. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The priest assumed that the old The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.fellow had been informed of his visit.

"I guess you were expecting me, he "I guess you were expecting me, he said.said.

'No, who are you?" said the father.'No, who are you?" said the father.

The priest told him his name and The priest told him his name and then remarked, then remarked,

"I saw the empty chair and I figured "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up,"you knew I was going to show up,"

"Oh yeah, the chair," said the "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man.bedridden man.

"Would you mind closing the door?" "Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the priest shut the door.Puzzled, the priest shut the door.

"I have never told anyone this, not "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.even my daughter," said the man.

"But all of my life I have never known "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At temple I used to hear the how to pray. At temple I used to hear the priest talk about prayer, But it went right priest talk about prayer, But it went right over my head."over my head."

"I abandoned any attempt at prayer," "I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued,the old man continued,

"until one day four years ago, my best "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, friend said to me,

"Jagjit, prayer is just a simple matter "Jagjit, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with GOD. of having a conversation with GOD. Here is what I suggest."Here is what I suggest."

"Sit down in a chair; place an empty "Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see chair in front of you, and in faith see GOD on the chair.GOD on the chair.

It's not spooky because he promised, It's not spooky because he promised,

'I will be with you always'.'I will be with you always'.

"Then just speak to him in the same "Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.”way you're doing with me right now.”

"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.that I do it a couple of hours every day.

I'm careful though if my daughter I'm careful though if my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair,saw me talking to an empty chair,

she'd either have a nervous she'd either have a nervous breakdownbreakdown

or send me off to the funny farm."or send me off to the funny farm."

Then he prayed with him, anointed Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the him with oil, and returned to the temple.temple.

The priest was deeply moved by the The priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.continue on the journey.

Two nights later the daughter called Two nights later the daughter called to tell the priest that her daddy had to tell the priest that her daddy had died that afternoon.died that afternoon.

Did he die in peace?" he asked.Did he die in peace?" he asked.

Yes, when I left the house about two Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me how much he loved bedside, told me how much he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. me and kissed me on the cheek.

When I got back from the store an When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about there was something strange about his death.his death.

Apparently, just before Daddy died, Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed.on the chair beside the bed.

What do you make of that?"What do you make of that?"

The priest wiped a tear from his eye The priest wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like and said, "I wish we could all go like that."that."

Just send this to four people or more, and do not Just send this to four people or more, and do not break this, please.break this, please.

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

I asked God for water,I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.He gave me an ocean. I asked God for a flower,I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.He gave me a garden. I asked God for a friend,I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU...He gave me all of YOU...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.through it.

Happy moments, praise God.Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments! , seek God.Difficult moments! , seek God. Quiet moments, worship God.Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God.Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.Every moment, thank God.

Pass this message ( just do it ) Pass this message ( just do it )

The will of GOD will never take you The will of GOD will never take you where the GRACE OF GOD will not where the GRACE OF GOD will not protect you!!!!protect you!!!!