Martha, 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 give her a few groceries on credit.
She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.
The grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.
In desperation, she pleaded: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.'
The grocer told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.
A well-dressed stranger standing beside the counter, overheard the conversation between the two. He walked forward and told the grocer that he would pay for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, 'Do you have a grocery list?'
Martha replied, 'Yes sir.' 'O.K' he said, 'put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.'
Martha 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 showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.
The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the stranger and said begrudgingly, 'I can't believe it.'
The stranger 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 frustration. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it in great amazement.
It was not a grocery list, it was 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.
Martha thanked him and left the store. The stranger who was Jesus, handed a Gold coin to the grocer and said the Creator knows how much a prayer weighs.'
THE POWER: When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do.
Just stop right now, and say a prayer of thanks for your own good fortune...
friend, trust God to know your very own needs, heal the sick, provide food for the hungry, clothes and shelter for those that don't have as we do.