Thursday, March 29, 2018

Life Lesson... Don't we All?

I parked in front of a mall, wiping my car, when a tramp approached me.

From the looks of him, he had no car, no home,  no clean clothes, and no money. 

There are times when you feel generous but sometimes you just don't want to be bothered.

This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times".

I hope he doesn't ask me for money, I thought.

He didn't.

He sat down on the curb and after a few minutes he spoke.

"That's a very pretty car," he said.

He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly beard keep more than his face warm.

I said, "Thanks," and continued wiping my car.

He sat quietly. The expected plea for money never came.

As the silence between us widened something inside me said, "Ask him if he needs any help." 

I was sure he would say "Yes" but I held true to the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.

We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments.

I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. But he spoke the three words that shook me.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a tramp in the street, until those three words hit me.

*Don't we all?*

I needed help.

Maybe not for a meal or a place to sleep, but I needed help.

I reached in my wallet and gave him enough to get a warm meal.

Those three little words still ring true.

No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too.

No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.

You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. But they may be waiting for you to give them what they don't have!

* A different perspective on life

* A glimpse at something beautiful

* A respite from daily chaos, that only you with a different view can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets.

Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to people too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a tramp, then said, "Go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."

DON'T WE ALL?

🙏😊🙏😊🙏😊🙏

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