silent thots: ST 14 : John Three - Sixteen (John 3:16)

In the heart of a city on a cold and dark winter's night,

a blizzard was setting in.

A little orphan boy was selling newspapers

at the corner of the local grocer.

People were hurrying back to their warm homes.

The little boy was so cold that he has stopped trying

to sell his papers.

He walked up to a policeman.

Shivering in his shoes, he asked politely,

"Sir, You wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight, would You?

You see, I sleep in a box around the corner over there, and down the alley it could get awfully cold on a night like this.

It sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay tonight."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said,

"You poor thing ...

Go down the street to that big white house

and knock on the door.

Just say John 3:16 and they will let you in."

The little boy thank the policemen and went on his way.

Reaching the big white house,

the little boy walked up the steps,

and knocked on the door.

A lady answered.

He looked up and said, "John 3:16."

The lady said, "Come on in, Son."

She took him in and sat him down before a great

big old fireplace.

Then, she went into the kitchen.

He sat there for a while, and thought to himself,

"John 3:16 ... I don't understand it,

but it sure makes a cold boy warm."

Later, she came back and asked, "Are you hungry, Son?"

He said, "Yes, I haven't eaten in a couple of days."

The lady took him to the kitchen and sat him

down to a table filled with the most wonderful

spread of food.

He ate and ate and ate until he couldn't eat anymore.

Rubbing his belly, he thought to himself,

"John 3:16 ... Boy, I don't understand it,

but it sure makes a hungry boy full."

After dinner, the lady took him upstairs to the bathroom.

He looked at the huge bath tub filled with warm soapy

water.

He said, "I've not had a bath like this in my whole life."

She made him soak in the tub for a while.

As he washed himself clean, he thought silently,

"John 3:16 ... I don't understand it,

but it sure makes a dirty boy clean.

Next, the lady took him to the bedroom.

She tucked him into a big old feather bed,

pulling the covers up to his neck.

She kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights.

As the little boy laid in the darkness,

he thought to himself,

"John 3:16 ... I don't understand it,

but it sure makes a tired boy rested."

The next morning,

the lady called him down to the kitchen.

The little boy had a hearty breakfast of sausages,

eggs and a cup of warm milk.

After he ate, they sat by the fireplace.

There, the lady brought out a big old Bible and asked,

"Do you understand John 3:16?"

The little boy slowly shook his head.

She began to tell him stories about Jesus.

Story after story after story.

The little boy listened in awe and said not a word.

By night fall, before that big old fireplace,

the little boy gave his heart and life to Jesus.

He sat there and thought quietly,

"John 3:16 ... I don't understand it,

why Jesus would die for a boy like me,

but it sure comforts me and

makes me feel safe."

Dear Lord ...

I may not understand how You would agree and be willing to send your only and beloved Son to die in the cruelest way imaginable on a horrible cross ...

Just for me.

I may not understand the depth of a Father's agony, the torment of a Mother's heart, the anguish of all the angels in heaven, watching Jesus being ridiculed, spit upon, tortured mercilessly, and finally nailed on the cross and left to bleed to death.

All that senseless suffering - Just for me.

This intense love You have for me, dear Lord, is something I may and might not ever understand, but it sure comforts me and makes me feel safe.

Thank You Lord, for coming into my life.