Two years ago, at this very moment, I was sitting exactly where I am now typing away so I could share my story with my Facebook family and friends. I was sharing my heart about an experience I had encountered early that Saturday morning. Many of you are aware of my blog posting titled "A Trip To Remind Me of My Blessings". If not, here is the link.... (it is also located under the November 2011 posts to the left of this page)....
http://windiraper-faithjewels.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-tifton-trip-062511.html
Otherwise, the rest of this rambling of mine is not going to make as much sense as it should.
If you are part of my Facebook family, you will remember yesterday morning I was working on another blog post and my mind went back to the above post. I shared it again after reading it at 8:48 am and I quote myself as I posted "Sitting here drinking my coffee and working on
another blog posting, and I thought about this one. My first blog post.
This weekend makes two years ago I wrote this as a note and shared with
FB world.. I still think of this man often. I wonder where he is now.
To those who encouraged me and posted on this two years ago thank you...
you never know how much it means to me!"
It was the post on Facebook that got me inspired enough with humbling comments made by those who took the time to read it to encourage me to brave creating a blog! So it is an extra special event for me.
Last night, I was working late trying to get caught up for today since my Mama was not going to be at work today. She left work last night around 6:30ish. After she left, she called me back within 5 minutes to tell me about this man that was sitting on the bench at the corner she had seen. I went to the door and was unable to see the man from the shop at that moment. I proceeded to come back inside and do a little more paper work.
Around 8:00 - 8:30, I called it a day and was heading home. I was parked in the area beside the water fountain, so when I left walking on the side walk I didn't look to my left to see if he was there or not. I got into the truck, pulled out on West Ward Street, took a left at the red light onto South Peterson Avenue, and was stopped at the red light at the intersection of South Peterson Avenue and Ashley Street. I glanced over and saw the man Mama was telling me about.
There was the older man sitting alone on the wooden park bench, under the pink blooming crepe myrtle trees, facing the Martin Civic Center. He was wearing an orange shirt and jeans. Just as the gentleman before in the Tifton story, he had his hair in dreads. And again, you could tell this man was homeless. He didn't have a bicycle. He only had a brown bag. When I saw this man, I knew what I had to do. This was my second chance to complete the missed blessing I had that morning in Tifton in 2011.
I know it is probably completely crazy for me to put it into this perspective, but it is just one of those things I did because my heart told me I had to do it! I know this is not the same man I saw in Tifton two years ago. I mean, it is probably not possible at all for it to be him again. I realize that fact. But, with the same similarities, I knew it was time to be a blessing for someone else that God had placed in my path!
I rounded the block as fast as I could and pulled in front of Jin Jin's. There was a couple of cars outside and I didn't want to draw attention to the man to make him feel awkward in any way. I sat in my truck and waited a few minutes before I went in. The whole time I am praying that he doesn't get up and leave before I get a chance to get the food.
I finally get out and go inside and the lady greets me like she always does. It is thanks to them and my Coca Cola habit I can't seem to lose the extra pounds I have been finding! She was getting orders together and I told her to go ahead because I was in no hurry, still hoping the people's orders ahead of me would be completed if I procrastinated a little longer. I finally made up my mind what I thought he would like that would be good in protein and in vegetables. I placed the order along with the two Coca Cola's and I took a seat to wait.
I was trying my best to figure out how I was going to give him the food as discreetly as possible. I had all kinds of ideas racing through my mind. I didn't even notice a friend of mines Daddy and sister were also in Jin Jin's too waiting on food. When she called their order up, I realized who they were and began talking to them. I brought up the guy outside and shared some of my story about the guy from Tifton.
After a few minutes, she called out my name for the food because it was ready. Here I am again, stuck with this question, how am I going to get the food to him. I didn't want to make him feel uneasy about the situation. I didn't want to put him on the spot. So I said a little prayer for God to help me figure this out. I had taken the bag, placed the Coke on top, walked over to the counter to put the fork, napkins, soy sauce, and duck sauce in the bag for him. I had just tied the back up when the door opened up and there he was coming inside. My heart skipped a couple of beats because God had just the perfect timing to let it all fall into place!
As he came in, the lady at Jin Jin's asked him if he was okay. He said yes and went to use their rest room. This was just the answer to the prayer I needed!!! As he shut the door, I walked back up to the counter and told her that I had not ordered the food for me. I had ordered the food to give it to him outside. I didn't want him to know where it came from, just that someone bought his food for him. Just please give it to him when he comes out. And with that, I walked out of Jin Jin's as fast as I could before I started to tear up a little.
I got to my truck and just sat there for a minute or two. I had to take the time to thank God for putting another person in my path I knew needed help. One of my favorite quotes I have read on Facebook is...
"You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." (Author unknown)
Once I finally got it all together with tears welling up and my heart about to explode out of my chest, he came out of Jin Jin's with his white bag. He went back to the bench he had been sitting on in the same spot. It was time for me to go home. I backed out and by the time I got to the red light to turn, he was already eating his supper. At that point I will admit I did lose it.
I went and asked the lady about him this morning to see what she had to say. She speaks broken English. She said he had been in earlier and gotten a bottle of water. He was still there last night after they closed at 11:00 p.m.
Maybe it is just coincidence the man showed up yesterday and it
coincides with the same date of the Tifton trip so closely. He could
have chosen any bench in down town Douglas to sit on. For some reason he
chose my block to come and rest for a while.
Matthew 25:31-46 reminds me of what we are supposed to do for others... When you leave this life, you can not take it with you. The part of the Scripture that stands out to me is verses 34 - 40 (NIV version)
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The
King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Those who know me on a personal level know the last few weeks have not been my favorite ones. They are a few of my least favorites every year. Dates I wish I could erase of the calendar permanently.
* Memorial Day Weekend 2007 - My Daddy was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer after going to doctors for over seven months with the same symptoms
* June - Father's Day - Seemingly gets harder and harder every year to have to face the reality
* June 19, 2010 - Well, I was set to have a wedding on that date but we cancelled the wedding due to other circumstances. Yes, I was engaged at one time. Different story for a different time.
Sometimes we just need a reminder of how blessed we really are to be able to bless someone else. Something as simple as a meal to someone else who has a very empty stomach. I do remember a time when I could not afford to even buy myself a $7 meal. Days like yesterday really open me up to seeing the bigger picture. It is like a little elbow nudge that says I can do and go through all things because of Christ that is in me! Being able to help someone else is my hearts greatest desire. Being able to bless someone else at their point of need, knowing I am able to do that is the only thanks I need!!
