12 o'clock

The story is told of a certain minister who was disturbed to see a shabby old man go into his church at noon every day and come out again after a few minutes. What could he be doing? 

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He informed the caretaker and bade him question the old man. After all the place contained valuable furnishings. 

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`I go to pray,' the old man said in reply to the caretaker's questioning. 

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`Come, come now,' said the other, 'you are never long enough in the church to pray.' 

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`Well, you see,' the shabby old man went on, `I cannot pray a long prayer, but every day at twelve o'clock I just comes and says, "Jesus, it's Jim" and waits a minute and then comes away. It's just a little prayer, but I guess He hears me.' 

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When Jim was injured some time later and taken to hospital, he had a wonderful influence in the ward. Grumbling patients became cheerful and often the ward would ring with laughter. 

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`Well, Jim,' said the sister to him one day, `the men say you are responsible for this change in the ward. They say you are always happy.'

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`Aye, sister, that I am. I can't help being happy. You see, it's my Visitor. Every day He makes me happy.' 

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`Your visitor?' The sister was puzzled. She always noticed that Jim's chair was empty on visiting days, for he was a lonely old man, with no relations. 

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'Your visitor? But when does he come?'`

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Every day,' Jim replied, the light in his eyes growing brighter. 'Yes, every day at twelve o'clock He comes and stands at the foot of my bed. 

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I see Him and He smiles and says, "Jim, it's Jesus".