Dear Reader:

Today the Ya’s are all heading up to Saluda and then onto the Pisgah Inn for Matthew’s wedding. We are so excited to be able to share in this special moment with Jackson!

While I am away….there will be just one short story (each day) that will “hopefully” make you pause and reflect upon it. All these short anecdotes come from the book: God’s Little Acre that many of us grew up hearing. Hopefully most of these stories will be new for you and enjoyed.

Libby and I are heading back Tuesday (April 26) so I can be home for Eva Cate’s “Official Birthday” which is Wednesday April 27 and her graduation the following day. So much going on.

Hopefully I can get some photos added to the blog throughout the week if there is some internet “juice” (Wi-Fi) where we are staying in the mountains.

Our First Story:

HOW MUCH DOES A PRAYER WEIGH?

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work. They had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store. Visualizing the family needs, she said: “Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.” John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, “Do you have a grocery list?” Louise replied, “Yes sir.” “Okay” he said, “put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.”

Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head. Then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scale went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, “I can’t believe it.” The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales.

The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust.

Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list. It was instead a prayer which said: “Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands.”

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said, “It was worth every penny of it.”

It was sometime later that the grocer discovered the scales were broken; therefore, only God knows how much a prayer weighs.

………………..

So until tomorrow….Let us keep our prayers continuously in flight to God….because only He knows the weight of our problems.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Look what I get to take to the mountains….my grandchildren! At least their photos….Honey sent me this canvas bag with photo slots and I filled it up….one of the additional bonuses of our wedding trip is going to be to get to see Honey while we are up there.

Brooke’s birthday is just around the corner so we will all celebrate together after the wedding. A lot of fun going on! *Isn’t it hard to believe that I only had two photos when I went to Ireland and now four grandchildren….something must have happened while I was across the seas! Those sneaky leprechaun!