JUST CHECKING IN
> ----- A priest 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 big door opened,
> a man came down the aisle,
>
> The priest 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 priest'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 of what I say:
>
> "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
> HOW HAPPY I have 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 JIM
> CHECKING IN TODAY.."
>
> The priest feeling foolish,
> told Jim, that was just 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 priest knelt at the altar,
> Like he had so many times before
>
> His old 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 have 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 priest 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 J im was so glad,
>
> when no flowers, calls or cards came,
> Not a visitor he had.
>
> The priest 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."
>
> ----- A priest 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 big door opened,
> a man came down the aisle,
>
> The priest 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 priest'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 of what I say:
>
> "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
> HOW HAPPY I have 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 JIM
> CHECKING IN TODAY.."
>
> The priest feeling foolish,
> told Jim, that was just 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 priest knelt at the altar,
> Like he had so many times before
>
> His old 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 have 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 priest 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 J im was so glad,
>
> when no flowers, calls or cards came,
> Not a visitor he had.
>
> The priest 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."
>
That really was a very beautiful poem. Brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDelete~Rosemary
This is a beautiful poem..I lost my youngest son in a logging accident, June 9,2006.He was a very wise and troubled young man..He had made his peace with the Lord, and told me so the night before he died...He always prayed, every day, no matter what. This poem is so beautiful...I alwas love to read about someone who has found the Lord and are happy!!!!! I know, in my heart, that he is in a better place than I am. I'm not quite ready to join him, there are still things I have to do...But I know Jesus had a plan for him and his life on earth was through! He tried to prepare me for his leaving..That, I was to dumb to see. I was selfish, I guess. He also told me that he wanted a simple song that he listened to all the time played at his funeral... This was not you everyday song that one would expect to be played at one's funeral..It was Kid Rock's, ONLY GOD KNOWS WHY!!! Everyone shoud always listen. take everything to heart, because for everything there is a reason...I know my sons work on earth was done...His heavenly work was just beginning! Yvonne C. Lewisburg, Tn.
ReplyDelete