Be a Blessing

There is so much on my heart I am not sure where to start!

Today as I was washing dishes on this Saturday morning, the Lord opened up my heart to those who are hurting and lost and feeling as if there is no hope or way out of what ever situation they are in right now. I look around me and I see so much. I am not sure if the Lord gives me glimpses so that I can walk with more gratitude or what. There is so much hope that we can share...we serve a God of hope.

On Thursday I went to Win Co which is a grocery store about 20 minutes from my house. Everything is less expensive than most other stores close by. Customers bag their own groceries which I actually love. I wanted to get stocked up in case it snowed. I don't drive in the snow mostly because I am scared! The only reason I could go grocery shopping like this is because I began to receive food stamps this week. I felt so blessed to get what we needed and know my family could have choices and enough to make meals for a while. So grateful. As I was driving out of the store parking lot I began to calculate how the rest of the month would work. This month I didn't get the full amount on my food card so I was careful to plan a few weeks of meals out. I knew I would still need to get milk, bread and fresh fruit and vegetables later in the month. The rest I had. So I ran through my plan as I pulled out of my parking space. I had a plan down to the last detail. But God...he likes to interrupt our plans!

In the same parking lot there is a Starbucks. I had a gift card that I received from a Christmas gift. I decided to drive through and treat myself to a coffee for the ride home. As I was driving up to the Starbucks I looked over to my right and there was a man sitting on the ground with a dog. Next to him was a very old beat up bicycle with a sign attached asking for help. I drove past him and in to the drive thru for my coffee. My heart knew that I needed to get in to my groceries and give him some of the things I had just purchased. At first I was thinking of what I would be willing to part with. But in my heart I knew that God wanted me to give beyond what I was willing and give the things that I really wanted for myself. I know when something is from the Lord because the pull in my heart is so strong there is no getting around it.

After I got my coffee I pulled in to a parking space. I got out of the van and opened the back of the van. I began to pull a few things out... such as a box of crackers, apples, string cheese, oranges, water bottle. I knew he couldn't have too much or it might not last, but I wanted to give him healthy food. I put it in a bag, got back in my van and drove to where he was sitting. I rolled down my window and asked him if I could give him something. I asked him his dogs name (Jackson). I asked him if he would tell me his name so I could pray for him by name (Steve). I asked him if he had a place to go. He said "Oh yeah. I sleep in the woods behind Win Co. We do alright!". My heart broke in to a thousand pieces.

It is cold out. Snow weather. "We so alright." His spirit was so full of joy even though his circumstances were not.

He said I looked like Goldie Hawn's twin...which made me smile. I thanked him for being so kind and after we talked for a while I drove away. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I was driving home to kids waiting for me, to a warm house, to bags of groceries to fill up my cupboards, and a bed with warm covers to pull up to my chin. I had a washer and dryer to clean my clothes. I had a shower to clean up and feel refreshed.

I am not sure I am writing this so that we can remember how grateful we should be, but to share that God wants us to share His love with ALL of those we come in contact with. That God wants us to give up what we think is precious and it will be okay. That God wants us to take action and get our eyes off of our circumstances and look out in to our families, neighborhoods, cities, etc to see the needs of others.

I use to sit around and say I can't do anything...I don't have the resources. But that is a lie. God is our resource. Ask him what he wants you to do today to be His representative in the world around you.

One thing you can do is to fill up a Ziplock bag with the following items: granola bar, trail mix, toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, Kleenex, wipes, coins, hand and feet warmers, socks, dried fruit, packages of crackers, an encouraging note of hope, etc. Keep a few of these in your car. When you see someone holding a sign up hand it to them. Give them hope. Also keep a few pairs of gloves, a few scarves and hats in your car so that you can hand them out. This is something you can do today and be a blessing to someone.

Blessings!
Teresa