By Dr. Jacquelyn Simmons
An elderly lady, who lived in New Orleans, received a message that her son, who lived in New York, was terribly ill. Even though she had no funds, she KNEW that “God would make a way” for her to visit him. After packing some of her limited possessions in a battered suitcase, she boarded a train headed in that direction. When the departure time arrived, the conductor pulled the signal cord located above the passenger seats to notify the train’s engineer and fireman to start the train.
After traveling several miles, the conductor began making his “assigned rounds” to make sure that all passengers had a traveler’s ticket. Everything went well until he stopped at the old lady’s seat. Upon reaching for her ticket, to his dismay, she said, “I have no ticket, but I must go to New York to see my very ill son.” The conductor said to her, “Every traveler must have a ticket to ride; therefore, she could not remain on the train. In exasperation, he pulled the cord, to signal the engineer, to stop the train. The engineer, who was very, very puzzled, ordered the fireman to help him in bringing the train to a halt in the “middle of nowhere.”
Afterwards, the conductor grabbed the old lady’s baggage and ordered her to exit the train. She arose and obeyed his command. The conductor, displaying great exasperation at having to stop the train to deport the old lady, slammed the train door during his re-entry and pulled the cord to signal the engineer to restart the train. However, the train did not move! In greater exasperation and frightened at what might be out there in the wilderness, he continued to pull the signal cord, but to no avail, the train did not MOVE! He finally traveled to the engine to inquire as to why the train was still standing in what might be dangerous territory. The engineer had no explanation why the train continued to stand still! Eventually, he returned to the passenger coach in great fear due to the failure of the train to MOVE!!
Finally, another old lady passenger offered to explain to the conductor why the train would not move. She said, “Look behind this train, your answer is located there!” He, with great fear, followed the old lady’s instructions, exited the train and to his astonishment found behind the train, the old lady clutching her BIBLE, kneeling on the tracks, and communicating with OUR GOD!!!
My friends have you ever been the sick son, conductor, engineer, fireman, train passenger or the old lady kneeling behind “God”s Trains??? During my childhood days, I became quite fascinated with this sermon preached by several ministers about “The Old Lady Praying Behind the Non-moving Train.” I decided to share it with those of you who are not familiar with its “God Given Message”!!!
My Family and Friends have a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! Love, Jacquelyn Simmons
