Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter.  She picked
    it up and looked at it before opening it, but then she looked at the
    envelope again.  There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and
    address.  She read the letter:

    Dear Ruth,
    
    I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like
    to stop by for a visit.
    Love Always,

                   Jesus

    Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table.  Why
    would the Lord want to visit me?  I'm nobody special.  I don't have
    anything to offer.  With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty
    kitchen cabinets.  Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to
    offer.  I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for
    dinner.  She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. 

    Five dollars and forty cents.  Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts,
    at least. She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of
    french bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of
    milk...leaving Ruth with a grand total of twelve cents to last her
    until Monday.  Nonetheless, she felt as she headed home, her meager
    offerings tucked under her arm.  Hey lady, can you help us?

    Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed
    two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them
    dressed in little more than rags.  Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya
    know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and,
    well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well,
    if you could help us, lady, we'd really appreciate it.  Ruth looked
    at them both.  They were dirty, they smelled bad and, frankly, she was
    certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted
    to.  Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself.  All I
    have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important
    guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him.

    Yeah, well, OK lady, I understand.  Thanks anyway. The man put his
    arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley.
    As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.

    Sir, wait!  The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley
    after them. Look, why don't you take this food.  I'll figure out
    something else to serve my guest.  She handed the man her grocery
    bag.  Thank you lady.  Thank you very much!  Yes, thank you!  It was the
    man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering.  You know,
    I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one.

    Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders.
    Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her
    coat and with nothing to serve her guest.  Thank you lady!  Thank you
    very much!  Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door,
    and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have
    anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door
    key.  But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.
    That's odd.  The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day.  
    She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

    Dear Ruth,

    It was so good to see you again.  Thank you for the lovely meal.
    And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
    Love Always,

                  Jesus

    The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
    noticed.