" I Don't Have Anything To Offer"
One morning Betty walked to her mail box and there was only one letter inside. She picked it up and looked
it over before opening. She noticed there was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She opened the envelope and
read the letter it contained.
Dear Betty,
I am going to be in your neighborhood Friday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for a visit.
Love Always, Jesus
Her hands were shaking as she walked back to the house. She wondered, Why would the Lord want to visit
me?
She thought, I'm nobody special and I don't have anything to offer Him when He arrives.
With that thought, Betty remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. " Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything
to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for Him." She reached for her purse and counted the money inside.
Only ten dollars and some loose change. " Well, maybe I can buy some bread and cold cuts, at least."
She put on her coat and hurried out the door. At the grocery store she purchased a loaf of bread, a pound
of ham and cheese, and a quart of milk. Which left Betty with $1.00 to last her until payday.
As she was walking home a voice cried out from an alleyway.
"Hey lady, hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Betty was so concentrated on the thought of her important
guest, she barely noticed the two people approaching her from the alleyway. A man and a woman dressed in torn and soiled clothing
approached Betty. " Look lady, I ain't got a job, my wife and I have been living out here on the streets, the weather
is turning cold and we're hungry. So could you please help us?"
Betty looked at them and noticed how dirty and smelly they were. Betty explained," I'd like to
help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is this food and I need this for an important visitor coming to my house
this evening."
" Okay lady, I understand, thanks anyway." The two homeless turned and walked back into the alley.
As Betty watched them leave, she felt a extra beat in her heart. Betty called out to them, " Hey, wait a minute!" The
homeless couple and Betty walked towards each other in the alley. " Look, why don't you take this food and I'll find something
else to serve my guest." As Betty was handing over the bag of groceries, she noticed the man's wife was shivering from
the effects of the cold weather. Betty removed her coat and gave it to the woman. " Here, you take this coat, I've got
another at home and you can have this one."
Betty smiled, turned and walked back to the street...without a coat and nothing to serve her important guest.
" Thank you lady! Thank you very much!", She heard the two remark as she walked away.
When Betty arrived home she had a chill from the long walk without a coat and she was a little worried, because
she did not have anything to offer. The Lord was coming to visit and she did not have anything to offer Him. As
she approached the front door she noticed another letter sticking out of the mail box. " That's odd," she thought. The mail
is usually delivered only once a day. She removed the letter from the box and opened it.
Dear Betty,
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the wonderful meal and the warm clothing.
Love Always,
JESUS
We find joy in giving from the Spirit of God within us. It is written, " It is more blessed
to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
