Today, I went to Dunkin Donuts to get a pumpkin coffee and on my way home I saw a man on the street corner. It’s not unusual for me to see this man. I’ve given him money and food before. The first time I saw him was right before Christmas. I gave him maybe $5. I wished him a Merry Christmas and he grumbled saying “How could I have a good Christmas standing out here?” I felt sad knowing that he might be right.
I’ve always had a huge heart towards the needy and homeless. God’s personal mission for me is to show them love. Often times its not about the money. Sure they probably do need money, but the symbol that money provides is that someone cares about them. Sometimes a sandwich, a green tea, or a bottle of water is the icebreaker God uses to show them love. Doesn’t everyone want to be loved? Sometimes these small gifts lead to conversations and once, a man named Skibby even sang me a song.
So today, when I saw this man, Randy, standing on the street corner I pulled my car over so that I could give him a few bucks and with that money maybe give him some love and hope. Imagine my surprise when Randy told me he had a gift for me! This man that I’ve only met maybe half a dozen times remembered me. I wasn’t expecting him to even recognize me. How could he know me when I only see him maybe once a month? I was so tickled when Randy pulled a red and orange (my favorite colors) plush turtle out of his bag for me.
He said he hadn’t seen me in a while but thought that I would like this turtle. I could’ve cried. Someone cares about me. Someone that I thought didn’t even know me or remember me got me a gift. Someone that has less than I have. This turtle is God’s love. It’s God’s way of telling me I’m doing something right. Just because someone doesn’t have a lot of money or lives a different lifestyle doesn’t mean they are different. Randy is a kind man, but he is also sick. Today, I found out that he may be spending nearly 20 days in the hospital. He didn’t say what for but please pray for him.
When I told Randy I would be prayingfor him, he said he would pray for me too. Thank you God for this unlikely friend. Thank you that he has given me the second best gift ever (the first best is my salvation). It’s wonderful to see how one man’s attitude has changed so drastically in 8 months. I want to be like Randy. I want to be kind and generous to strangers. I want to show them love. I feel so humbled. There I was trying to show Randy love and he turned it around and showed me God’s love.
