“My God will provide everything you need because of His great riches." ~ Philippians 4:19
On her daily walk to work,
Margaret passes several homeless people, or those living on the minimal edge of
subsistence. These are the mentally ill,
unemployed, addicted, and those simply down on their luck. And yes, the chronically lazy.
While her personal finances are
tight enough that she often can't afford to give, she often does so anyway,
trying not to wonder if they’ll use it on booze or drugs. She looks them in the eye and greets them with
at least a gentle smile when she can't. That
smile may be the only thing that breaks the invisibility they suffer.
Today, a heavyset man carrying a cardboard sign limped
toward her. From behind oversized
sunglasses, Margaret studied his clothes, his facial features, and his
footwear. (Her dad always said you can
tell fake beggars by their shoes). This
man with dead eyes and ethnic features shuffled closer in timeworn moccasins. His sign read simply: "Anything
Helps."
She gazed into his eye’s, gauging the depth of his humanity,
and did so without hesitation, pulling out two twenties and a ten.
He thanked her with a warm smile. Raymond, a homeless vet who’d only collected
$4.35 since early his morning, shuffled away quietly rejoicing in his good
fortune.
Margaret continued on her way reminding herself of the
Apostle Paul who taught that God would always meet her needs.
A few days later, Raymond approached her once again on the
sidewalk.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said, “I sincerely appreciate the
gift you blessed me with a few days ago, but I’d like to return it to you in
the hope that you can give me something even more precious.” Raymond pulled the same three bills from his
pocket and handed them to the astonished woman.
Margaret stood speechless as she took the cash back.
Raymond continued, “Give me what you have within you that
enabled you to give me something more precious. Give me what that love within you that encouraged
me to believe in myself again!” He flipped
his sign around with a new message: ‘I’m on a new path.’ Thank you!”
Rumors on the street suggested he entered a rehab program
and got a security job at a local hospital.
Margaret never saw Raymond again.
We’re often misled into believing that most homelessness
results from poor character, specifically drug addiction or laziness. In reality, the top three causes of
homelessness in the U.S. continue to be: lack of affordable housing,
unemployment, and mental illness, in that order.
God of mercy, grace, and provision. Thank You for the strength You give us each
day. Bless those homeless with protection from the elements, with the sufficiency
of food and clothing, with joy and peace of mind, and with the security of Your
love. Amen
