We never know ...

We never know what one kind word can do for another person. God Bless.

 

 

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

 

One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy

a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a

distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting

with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife,

'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

 

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

 

'Oklahoma,' they said.

 

'Great to have you here in Tennessee,' the stranger said... 'What do you do for a living?'

 

'I teach at a seminary,' he said.

 

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great

story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table

with the couple.

 

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great.. Just what I need.... Another preacher story.

 

 

The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (Pointing out the restaurant

window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an

unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he

was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, who's your daddy?' Whether he

was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same

question, 'Who's your daddy?'

 

He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students. He would avoid

going in to stores because that question hurt him so badly. 'When he was about

12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. The boy would always go in late

and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

 

But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that the boy got

caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

 

Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing

anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's

your daddy?'

 

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church

looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question,

'Who's your daddy?'

 

This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using

discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that

scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family

resemblance now, You are a child of God.'

 

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a

great inheritance.. Go and claim it.'

 

'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out

the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody

asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just say, 'I'm a Child of God.''

 

The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a

great story?'

 

The professor said that it really was a great story!

 

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't

told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have

amounted to anything!' And he walked away.

 

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress

over and said, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left

who was sitting at our table?'

 

The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him.

 

That's Ben Hooper. He's the governor of Tennessee!'

 

 

Someone in your life today needs a reminder that he or she is a child of God!

 

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands

Forever.' ~~Isaiah

 

YOU'RE ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN!

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

 

You have no idea which one of your e-mail buddies could

use a little hope today.

IN GOD WE TRUST!