Read It, Learn It, Live it, Share It
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." – 1 Peter 4:10
As the darkness rolled over the streets, the chill in the air left nothing to the imagination of those who did not make it into the shelter that night. He had been here before, he knew once the door was closed there was no sense pounding or arguing about it as some were doing that night. One elderly lady was using her cane to pound on the door, while screaming that it wasn’t fare. She just happened to be the very next in line when they announced that they were “full up” for the night. It broke his heart to see her, but he knew if they opened that door there would be a mob pushing to try and get in.
As the line began to disperse, he watched her with curiosity. He had seen her before in the alley behind Kroger, and he knew she had friends in the park, but as the snow began to fall something rang different in her sense of urgency tonight. She would not stop pounding on the door though. Twenty minutes went by, her voice was now hoarse and her spirit weakened, but she kept on. Surprisingly, a light came on and then the door cracked open. The man on the other side held up one finger as if to say only one more person could enter. The elderly woman moved anxiously over to her pile of belongings and pushing things aside, helped a young girl, no more than eight years old stand up from the pile of plastic bags. Hurrying back to the door she guided the young girl into the narrow opening between the doors. The man behind the door was caught by surprise as were many of us in the street that night. The elderly woman backed away and began picking up her belongings as the door closed and the light was turned off. The next morning the woman’s stiff body was found covered in snow behind a dumpster in back of Kroger.
We find God’s love each and every day, not in a book, not in an email, not on Facebook or in the news. We find His love in the hearts, hands and expressions of those around you. Quit asking what you can do to help others, and just do something. I promise, the littlest act of kindness, generosity and love you share with another can change a person’s entire life. We all have choices to make every day – to be His hands and feet or to hope that someone else is. Which will you do today?
As the line began to disperse, he watched her with curiosity. He had seen her before in the alley behind Kroger, and he knew she had friends in the park, but as the snow began to fall something rang different in her sense of urgency tonight. She would not stop pounding on the door though. Twenty minutes went by, her voice was now hoarse and her spirit weakened, but she kept on. Surprisingly, a light came on and then the door cracked open. The man on the other side held up one finger as if to say only one more person could enter. The elderly woman moved anxiously over to her pile of belongings and pushing things aside, helped a young girl, no more than eight years old stand up from the pile of plastic bags. Hurrying back to the door she guided the young girl into the narrow opening between the doors. The man behind the door was caught by surprise as were many of us in the street that night. The elderly woman backed away and began picking up her belongings as the door closed and the light was turned off. The next morning the woman’s stiff body was found covered in snow behind a dumpster in back of Kroger.
We find God’s love each and every day, not in a book, not in an email, not on Facebook or in the news. We find His love in the hearts, hands and expressions of those around you. Quit asking what you can do to help others, and just do something. I promise, the littlest act of kindness, generosity and love you share with another can change a person’s entire life. We all have choices to make every day – to be His hands and feet or to hope that someone else is. Which will you do today?
© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
For additional Daily Thoughts, please visit: http://www.10minutereader.com
For additional Daily Thoughts, please visit: http://www.10minutereader.com
This made me cry. There are good people in this world. Good people doing the right thing all the time. I want to be that person. I will begin now with little things. Thankyou for the reminder
ReplyDelete