Thursday, May 29, 2003

A story my daughter Leslie sent me reminded me of a story I read in Familiy Circle about prayer.


"A Hindu teacher was asked the best way to pray. He answered
with this story.

Once there was a dog who was attacked by a pack of wild dogs. He
fought his way free, limped home bleeding and presented himself at
this owner's feet. And what did the owner do? He carried the dog
indoors, washed and bandaged his wounds and set his broken bones.
Every day he gave his dog food, water, a soft bed. And soon the dog
got well. The dog did not ask for anything. The dog merely presented
himself. "That is how you pray." my teacher said. "For is you ask
for a shirt, you will get a shirt, and if you ask for trousers, you
will get trousers. But if you simply present yourself, every blessing
will be yours." (Sophy Burnham)

Leslie's story was this:

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what
lies on the other side.

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the
door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the
other side of death, but I do know one thing...I know my Master is there and that is enough."

Have a great day

Mary

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