Forward: Ruth's Story

Ruth went to her mailbox and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, found that there was no stamp, no postmark, and only her name and address. The letter read:

Dear Ruth,

I'm going to be in your neighborhood on Saturday afternoon. I'd like to drop by for a visit.

Love Always,

Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table, "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."

With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets, she reached into her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.

A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk left Ruth with a grand total of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home with her meager offerings tucked under her arm.

"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth was so absorbed with her dinner plans that she barely noticed the two figures huddled in the alleyway outside the grocers. A man and a woman, both dressed in little more than rags.

"Look lady, I ain't got no job and my wife and I've been living out here on the streets, see, and well, it's getting cold and we're kinda hungry. If you could help us, we'd appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them; they were dirty, smelly and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to. "Sir, I'd really like to help, but I'm a poor woman myself, all I have are a few cold cuts and some bread, and I have an important guest for dinner tonight..."

The couple nodded their heads sadly, "Yeah, well, ok lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man said, as he placed his arm around his wife's shoulders.

But as Ruth watched them leave, she felt a familiar twinge in her heart, "Sir, wait!" she called out. The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them.

"Why don't you take this food, I'll figure out something to serve my guest." handing the man her grocery bag.

"Thanks lady! Thanks a lot!" The man exclaimed with a toothless grin.

"Yes, thank you." His wife added, and Ruth could now see that the woman was shivering.

"You know, I have another coat at home. Here, take this one." Ruth slipped out of her jacket and handed it to the woman. Then, smiling, she turned and walked back home, without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.

Ruth was freezing by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she ad nothing to offer him. As she fumbled through her purse for her keys, she noticed another envelope sticking out of her mailbox. "That's odd," she said, "the mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."

Dear Ruth,

It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.

Love Always,

Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.