Daddy's Empty ChairDaddy's Empty Chair

Presented by Brenda

Music: Brian's Song by Henry Mancini

A man's A man's daughter had daughter had asked the asked the local minister local minister to come and to come and pray with herpray with her

father.father.

When the minister arrived, he found When the minister 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 minister assumed that the old fellow had The minister assumed that the old fellow had

been informed of his visit.been informed of his visit.

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

who are who are you?" said you?" said the father.the father.

'No,'No,

The minister told him his nameThe minister told him his name and then remarked,and then remarked,

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

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

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

"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. how to pray.

At church I used to hear the pastor talk At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, But it went right over about prayer, But it went right over my head."my head."

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

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

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

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

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

"Then "Then just just speak to speak to him in him in the same the same way way you're you're doing doing with me with me right right now."now." "So, I tried "So, I tried

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

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

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

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

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

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

she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me how much called me over to his bedside, told me how much

he loved me and kissed me on the cheek.he loved me and kissed me on the cheek.

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

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

What What do do you you

make make of of

that?that?

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

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

I can do all things through HIM who I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me. strengthens me.

Phillipians 4:13Phillipians 4:13

THE END