They need it more than me!
Tonight after coming home from youth group we stopped of at the store to get a gallon of milk. while Jenna went in side to get it, I sat in the car at watched a homeless man with a prosthetic leg beg for change as people scurried by in both directions. Finally I called him over to the car and gave him the few bucks that I had left in my wallet. Without ever looking me in the eye he responded with a kind "thank you". then before making a full turn to limp back to the wall, that he seemed to be the only thing to block the cold wind, he asked if I by chance i had an extra blanket in the car that he could possible have. Knowing that tonight was going to drop into the mid twenties I was now responsible to do something.
There at that moment I had two chooses. The first choose would have been to simply to say no because of the fact that it would take an initiative on my part to go home to get some blankets and then come back. Or I could have taken responsibility for this man that I have never met before that night. We have a no right to look at anyone else and be the judge of that persons worth. We have a responsibility to be there with an out stretched hand for anyone who needs assistance.
After returning home and dropping off the family and picking up a friend that lives in the apartment complex ( just to be safe). We then returned and suggested that hot meal was definitely over due for our new friend. He hesitated and said that he would go but he didn't want to get into the car. He did not do this because of safety reasons but because he did not want to offend us with his smell. He thought that no one helping him out should have to deal with him stinking up their car. We then stressed that it didn't matter and we wanted to give him a ride. So we ventured across the street while exchanging small talk on the way.
After arriving at Wendy's we went back and forth for a minute about not ordering something off the dollar menu and going all out on the baconator value meal, which he was thrilled to get. Then as we waited for the food I watched him empty out all the change from his pocket and dump hand fulls of pennies into a little charity box that was designated to go to children with cancer. We all asked why he was doing that and insisted on him keeping the change. Even the lady behind the counter was in protest. He responded with the profound answer "they need it more than I do". We were all in complete shock. Here a homeless guy standing there in shoes that were completely falling apart and sleeps in a tent behind a grave yard. He stood out in the below freezing night and begged for that change. It was the fruit of his labor. It was an experience that I will never forget.
Over dinner he told us his story about being in the army for ten years then quiting. That was followed up by going to prison because he got involved with the wrong crowd. I watched him choke back alot of pain, hurt, regret and flood of emotions as he wiped his nose and hide his welling eyes. He told us about not knowing his son because of it. Not knowing where he lived or what he was doing now. He has been on the streets for 9 years. Right now he is the prodigal son that feels broken beaten and full of shame. Thinking he can never return to his mom or sister.
We were able to speak alot of truth into his life. We told him about gods love and how much god valued him. A story very similar to the prodigal son returning and family not caring about his shame, but rejoicing over his return. He was a believer and said that Jesus was all that he has. That it is the only thing that he has. He didn't look at his life as having any value. But that night I could see him with Christ's eyes and the value that he sees in him. It was a truly amazing experience to love on someone that is less fortunate. to know that God has blessed us that we can bless someone else.
We took him back to where he was standing and gave him an old sleeping bag, a blanket, a pair of dress pants and a dress shirt for a job interview, and a sack full of breakfast food that Jenna had put together. We prayed for him departed ways probably to never cross paths again. But right before he left he told us out of everything he got tonight there was to things that were the most important. One was the sleeping bag and the other of higher value was the we even spoke to him.
There at that moment I had two chooses. The first choose would have been to simply to say no because of the fact that it would take an initiative on my part to go home to get some blankets and then come back. Or I could have taken responsibility for this man that I have never met before that night. We have a no right to look at anyone else and be the judge of that persons worth. We have a responsibility to be there with an out stretched hand for anyone who needs assistance.
After returning home and dropping off the family and picking up a friend that lives in the apartment complex ( just to be safe). We then returned and suggested that hot meal was definitely over due for our new friend. He hesitated and said that he would go but he didn't want to get into the car. He did not do this because of safety reasons but because he did not want to offend us with his smell. He thought that no one helping him out should have to deal with him stinking up their car. We then stressed that it didn't matter and we wanted to give him a ride. So we ventured across the street while exchanging small talk on the way.
After arriving at Wendy's we went back and forth for a minute about not ordering something off the dollar menu and going all out on the baconator value meal, which he was thrilled to get. Then as we waited for the food I watched him empty out all the change from his pocket and dump hand fulls of pennies into a little charity box that was designated to go to children with cancer. We all asked why he was doing that and insisted on him keeping the change. Even the lady behind the counter was in protest. He responded with the profound answer "they need it more than I do". We were all in complete shock. Here a homeless guy standing there in shoes that were completely falling apart and sleeps in a tent behind a grave yard. He stood out in the below freezing night and begged for that change. It was the fruit of his labor. It was an experience that I will never forget.
Over dinner he told us his story about being in the army for ten years then quiting. That was followed up by going to prison because he got involved with the wrong crowd. I watched him choke back alot of pain, hurt, regret and flood of emotions as he wiped his nose and hide his welling eyes. He told us about not knowing his son because of it. Not knowing where he lived or what he was doing now. He has been on the streets for 9 years. Right now he is the prodigal son that feels broken beaten and full of shame. Thinking he can never return to his mom or sister.
We were able to speak alot of truth into his life. We told him about gods love and how much god valued him. A story very similar to the prodigal son returning and family not caring about his shame, but rejoicing over his return. He was a believer and said that Jesus was all that he has. That it is the only thing that he has. He didn't look at his life as having any value. But that night I could see him with Christ's eyes and the value that he sees in him. It was a truly amazing experience to love on someone that is less fortunate. to know that God has blessed us that we can bless someone else.
We took him back to where he was standing and gave him an old sleeping bag, a blanket, a pair of dress pants and a dress shirt for a job interview, and a sack full of breakfast food that Jenna had put together. We prayed for him departed ways probably to never cross paths again. But right before he left he told us out of everything he got tonight there was to things that were the most important. One was the sleeping bag and the other of higher value was the we even spoke to him.
Awesome story. Reminded me of this moment that I wrote about: http://www.andydarnell.com/?p=1009
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