Little Andy Talks with God
The Raggedy Man
Hi there, Mr. God. It's me, little Andy.
I need to tell ya somethin'.
Were you at our church, today?
If'n you weren't, here is what was done.
There was a raggedy man come to church
And he sat back, way back, near the door.
Lots of people didn't like him at all,
I guess 'cause he was poor.
I could tell he was poor 'cause
He had on clothes that were bad
And I heard one lady say,
"My goodness, he stinks; ain't that sad.
And the other lady said, she was whispering,
She said only God could love that dirty face,
And that is what I wanted to ask you 'bout.
Is daddy, God, too? They called him a disgrace
'Cause daddy went right down to the seat
And hugged the dirty man;
Said he loves him and 'welcome to church,
Come back any time ya can'.
The man began to cry, his nose was all red
and he had lots of hair ... that was dirty, too.
But daddy just kept hugging him, like they were friends.
One lady said that was a shameful thing to do.
Mama and little sis came up and shook his hand,
And little sis giggled at him and waved her hand.
She didn't know that he was poor or dirty,
Maybe 'cause she is kinda still new.
Lots of people went out the side door
so they wouldn't get dirty, like him, I guess.
He sure was smelly, Mr. God.
They said that he was 'a frightful mess'.
But, what I want to know ...
Why did you give him a face that only you could love?
Maybe, if he shaved and took a bath,
He would smell better and then every one could love.
Daddy gave him some money and told him,
"In the name of Jesus, I give this to you.
Buy yourself a good meal and take care of your needs.
Come back and see us again, if you have nothing better to do."
The people said that daddy shouldn't 'courage him;
After all, how many others will come there
Looking for free money?
They would come from everywhere.
Daddy tolded them that he was a child of God
and that God would want us to take care of him, too.
He said that this was going to be the lesson for next week,
This is what you would want them to do.
Do you love smelly, dirty, people, Mr. God?
Daddy says ya do, and that Jesus died for his sin.
And there, but for the grace you give
(I don't know what grace he means)
That is where we all could have been.
Well, I don't know about that, Mr. God.
Mama would never let me or sis be dirty like that.
Daddy says there are differ'nt ways to be dirty,
'Pends on where we be at.
Daddy said the raggedy man was a soldier,
That he was from a war (long time ago);
A place called somethin' - "nam"
And the people needed to know ...
That he was a'pressed, since he was old and poor,
And that no one loved him any more.
I don't think he has a mother or a wife
'Cause of the wrinkly clothes he wore.
No lady would let him go looking like that.
So, I guess he is all alone, and lonely.
So, would ya look after him and get him some new clothes?
Could ya do that for me?
Daddy said that he had a medal
'Cause he had a purple heart.
How daddy knew his heart was purple I don't know
'Cause ya couldn't see it, not even a part ...
'Cause hearts are locked up inside
And daddy says that was the problem with our congra'tion,
And that they really needed to let you in their heart
Or we would be a sinful nation.
Do ya know what that is, Mr. God?
I don't want to be a sinful nation, away from you.
So, please, forgive me, if ya think I am sinful.
I don't really mean to.
Well, I gotta go.
But, if you could, please look after the raggedy man.
If any one can change him, Daddy says
Mr. God can.
I love ya and tell Jesus 'hi' for me.
How's his mama and and the angels that watch us?
And, thank you for letting me be
A special friend to Jesus.
'Nite, from little Andy.
© 2009 by Sandra Griffin
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