Just Checking In Today

" Just Checking In Today" Modified by Franklin Price from a posting on Facebook My sincere gratitude to the original author, who is unknown to me Modified 4/1/2016 A preacher passing through his church, In the middle of the day,  Was pausing by the altar To see who came to pray. Just then the front door opened, and a man came down the aisle, The preacher frowned, as he saw the man, had not shaved in quite a while. His shirt was torn and shabby and his coat was worn and frayed, The man knelt down and bowed his head, then rose and walked away. At precisely noon, each day, the preacher saw this chap. Each time he knelt a moment, a lunch pail in his lap. The preacher not without concern, with robbery a fear, Decided to stop and ask the man, “What are you doing here?” Said, “ I am a factory worker and my lunch a half an hour. It also is my prayer time, for finding strength and power.” “I can stay only a moment, because the factory's far away; As I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say:” “I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found Each Other's Friendship and You Took Away My Sin. I Think About You Always, Don't Know Much How To Pray. So, Jesus, This is the Ben, Just Checking in Today.” The preacher felt quite foolish, told Ben that it was fine. That he was always welcome to pray there anytime. 'It's time to go, and thanks,” said Ben, as he hurried to the door. The minister knelt right away, his knees were on the floor Tears flowed down his cheeks, as he talked with Jesus there. He felt the spirit in him, as he repeated old Ben's prayer: “I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found Each Other's Friendship and You Took Away My Sin. I Think About You Always, Don't Know Much How To Pray. So, Jesus, This Is the preacher, just Checking In Today.” One day, the preacher noticed, That old Ben hadn't come. More days passed and still no Ben, he began to worry some.  Went and found the factory, asked of Ben, learned he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, though he had given them a thrill. The time that Ben was with them, no one was ever bored His smiles and joy contagious, helping people his reward. The head nurse could not understand, why Ben could be so glad, When no flowers, calls or cards had come, and no visitors he had. The preacher stayed there by his bed, told Ben of her concern: No friends had come to show they cared, did he have nowhere to turn?. Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up, Said with a winsome smile; “The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, He's been here all the while.” “Every day at noon He comes, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits down and takes my hand, leans over, says to me:   'I Just Came By To Tell You, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found This Friendship, And I Took Away Your Sin. I Think About You Always And I Love To Hear You Pray, For You Ben, This Is Jesus, Just Checking In Today.”