Just Checking In Today

 
 A priest passing through his church
 In the middle of the day,
 Decided to pause by the altar
 To see who came to pray.
  
  
 Just then the back door opened,
 And a man came down the aisle,
 The priest frowned as he saw the man
 Hadn't shaved in 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.
  
  
 In the days that followed at precisely noon, the priest saw this chap, Each 
 time he knelt just for a moment, A lunch pail in his lap.
  
  
 Well, the priest's suspicions grew,
 With robbery a main fear,
 He decided to stop and ask the man, 'What are you doing here?'
  
  
 The old man said he was a factory worker And lunch was half an hour 
 Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power.
  
  
 'I stay only a moment
 Because the factory's far away;
 As I kneel here talking to the Lord,
 This is kind of 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.
  
  
 'Don't Know Much Of How To Pray,
 But I Think About You Every day.
 So, Jesus, This Is Ben, 

 Just Checking In Today.''
  
  
 The priest feeling foolish,
 Told Ben that it was fine.
 He told the man that he was welcome
 To pray there anytime.
  
  
 'It's time to go, and thanks,' Ben said
 As he hurried to the door.
  
  
 Then the priest knelt there at the altar, Which he'd never done before.
  
  
 His cold heart melted, warmed with love, As he met with Jesus there.
 As the tears flowed down his cheeks,
 He repeated old Ben's prayer:
  
  
 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord,
 How Happy I've Been,
 Since We Found Each Other's Friendship
 And You Took Away My Sin.
  
  
 'I Don't Know Much Of How To Pray,
 But I Think About You Every day.
 So, Jesus, This Is Me,
 Just Checking In Today.'
  
  
 Past noon one day, the priest noticed
 That old Ben hadn't come.
 As more days passed and still no Ben,
 He began to worry some.
   
 At the factory, he asked about him,
 Learning he was ill.
 The hospital staff was worried,
 But he'd given them a thrill.
  
  
 The week that Ben was with them,
 Brought changes in the ward.
 His smiles and joy contagious.
 Changed people were his reward.
  
  
 The head nurse couldn't understand
 Why Ben could be so glad,
 When no flowers, calls or cards came,
 Not a visitor he had.
  
  
 The priest stayed by his bed,
 He voiced the nurse's concern:
 No friends had come to show they cared.
 He had nowhere to turn.
  
  
 Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up
 And 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 here,
 A dear friend of mine, you see,
 He sits right down and takes my hand,
 leans over and says to me:
  
  
 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Ben,
 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,
 And So Ben, This Is Jesus,
 Just Checking In Today.'
  
  
 If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your 
 life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
  
  
 May God hold you in the palm of His hand And Angels watch over you..
 Please pass this page on to your friends & loved ones. If you aren't 
 ashamed.
  
  
 Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me,'
 I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'

Thanks Randy