How Much Does a Prayer Weigh?

How Much Does a Prayer Weigh?

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work. They had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store. Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can." John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?" Louise replied, "Yes sir." "Okay" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head. Then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scale went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it." The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales.

The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust.

Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list. It was instead a prayer which said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said, "It was worth every penny of it."

It was sometime later that the grocer discovered the scales were broken; therefore, only God knows how much a prayer weighs.

Posted on Shalom Adventure by: Brenda Miller

Originally found here

Picture originally found here

Related Articles

More From Poetry

Before One Reads the Torah

Before one reads the Torah, one must beAlight with love of G-d, as though a flameTook refuge in…
Before One Reads the Torah

Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, oh holy spirit please rescue me.Holy Spirit come live inside of me. You are my…
Holy Spirit

One Moment Please

Is it convenient to know when you will die?To have the extra moments to say good-bye?Maybe to…
One Moment Please
Complaining Bears No Fruit

Complaining Bears No Fruit

My beloved adonai, i know that you love me.My beloved adonai, i know that you care.But when you…
Complaining Bears No Fruit

In Those Days

Many will claim his name.In those days.
In Those Days

Someone Who Cares

I'm writing to tell you of someone who cares,Whose life and death brought something I must…
Someone Who Cares

Good Morning My God

When I awake, You are the first thought on my mind.When I awake, the joy of Your presence is…
Good Morning My God

The Warring

Have you heard of an age of love without time? How can this be? Life is marked by pain 'within'…
The Warring

Hear, O Israel

Hear, my people, Israel,The Lord is one, the only God,And you shall worship him alone,For him…
Hear, O Israel

Anne Frank Poem

A simple girl with great ambitions, that wereNever to be fulfilled; butNeither to go unnoticed,…
Anne Frank Poem

Avinu Malkenu

Avinu Malkenu, please show me how to get closer to You.
Avinu Malkenu

Sebastian

Sebastian may be blind, but he can seeEverything extant to you and me.Because his sight is…
Sebastian

What a Day, Lord

I overslept when I had so much to do.I really didn't mean to forget about You.But nothing…
What a Day, Lord

In Passing Hellos

That’s all we can afford to give.We've been made to feel afraid of each other.They tell us each…
In Passing Hellos

Eyes

I’ve seen innocent eyes, living out their fantasyEyes not trying to hide, naked to ecstasy.I’ve…
Eyes

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation