अनोदा तरु STORY

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked itup and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelopeagain.There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read theletter:Dear Ruth:I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoonand I'd like to stopby for a visit.Love Always, JesusHer hands were shaking as she placed the letter on thetable. "Why would theLord want to visit me?I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchencabinets. "Oh mygoodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'llhave to run down tothe store and buy something for dinner." She reachedforher purse andcounted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents."Well, I can getsome 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 ofmilk..leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents tolasther until Monday.Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, hermeager offerings tuckedunder her arm."Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, shehadn't even noticed twofigures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman,bothof them dressed inlittle more than rags"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife andI have been livingout here on the street, and, well, now it's gettingcoldand we're gettingkinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady,we'dreally appreciateit."Ruth looked at them both.They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she wascertain that theycould get some kind of work if they really wanted to."Sir, I'd like to help you, b ut I'm a poor womanmyself. All I have is a fewcold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an importantguest for dinnertonight and I was planning on serving that to Him.""Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."The man put his arm around the woman's shou lders,turned and headed backinto the alley.As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twingein her heart."Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she randown the alley afterthem. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figureout something else toserve my guest."She handed the man her grocery bag."Thank you lady. Thank you very much!""Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth couldsee now that she wasshivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home.Here, why don't youtake this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slippedit over the woman'sshoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back tothe street...withouther coat and with nothing to serve her guest."Thank you lady!Thank you very much!"Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her frontdoor,and worried too.The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't haveanything to offer Him.She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But asshe did, she noticedanother envelope in her mailbox."That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice inone day." She tookthe envelope out of the box and opened it.Dear Ruth:It was so good to see you again. Thank you for thelovely meal. And thankyou, too, for the beautiful coat.Love Always JesusThe air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruthno longer noticedIf you love Jesus, send this to ten people. Do notkeepthis message.You will get a very pleasant surprise.Very good things will happen to everyone that touchesthis story.