Yesterday I was running late to pick up my brother. Doug is my older brother, but since he is a "special needs child", we have more of a mother - son relationship. As I was growing up it felt like I went from his little sister, to his equal, to more like his care giver. Doug is one of the reasons that I have such a strong motherly instinct. My kids call it "Mama bear" when I am defending any one of them. I tend to be quite the...well, lets call it, advocate...lol. I would just recommend not messing with my kids! You could get hurt in the process.

Anyway, Doug gets a bit upset if you are not on time. The traffic was unexpectedly heavy for a holiday weekend and as I made my way to East Norriton I found myself a few minutes late. I quickly called to have the house parents tell Doug I was running late (Doug lives in a residential home with other special needs men and the wonderful people there who assist them in daily living). I took a turn to get out of the traffic and went too far.

When I had turned around, and was headed back in the right direction, I  noticed a man on the side of the busy road. His face was fully bronzed by the sun. He had ruddy cheeks and long hair with a full beard. It was nearly 95 degrees out and he had on a long sleeved shirt and long pants. As I approached I saw that he had a cardboard sign in his hands which read, "Homeless - anything will help - God Bless You". Ugh...ugh, ugh! My heart strings..."What do I have to give him?" I thought as I approached the red light. (I used to always carry bags in my trunk with a water bottle, a soft granola bar, pop top canned raviolis, toiletries, candy and a bible... but I didn't have any left). I always tried to have one for just this kind of moment. A few years back I was running into people like this man everywhere and got the idea to have these bags made up and ready so that I could give them something and tell them about God.

The light turned green and I had to make a decision. Doug was waiting just a few minutes down the road for me to take him out to eat. I knew that God had taken me past this man on purpose, so I decided that after I picked Doug up, we would go to get some food together and, take it back and minister to the man on the road.

I picked Doug up and as we drove away from his house, began explaining where we were going. Doug was excited to help me. I do this sort of thing all of the time, but Doug had never had the chance. Doug has a huge heart for helping others...this was going to be awesome for him. I pulled into the nearest fast food place which was a Sonic. I walked up to the area for take out and waited to order. A typical American family of four was ahead of me. I tried to be patient as they ordered..."We'll have this meal, and that meal, but hold the pickles, and extra ketchup...no onion on that one and on the milkshakes my daughter needs sprinkles. My son will have the same but his sprinkles need to be blue only and can we get apple slices...Hmmmm, I don't know which kind of ice cream I....Honey do you want extra whipped cream?"...Oh my goodness, they literally took 15 minutes to order fast food! The contrast was so striking that I was certain God was making a point. Here was a family of abundance, living in a world of luxury and choice. Everywhere we go there are options; colors and sizes, shapes and "Toppings"...and here was this man just down the street with only the clothes on his back and a cardboard sign.

I ordered the food, asking the waitress what would come out fastest. I was worried that he may be gone, and along with him my opportunity to show him that some one  saw him...that some one cared.
I jumped back into the car and raced towards my goal, trying as I drove to figure out where I could turn to get near him and not hold up traffic. I saw as I approached him, that there was a parking lot behind the bushes where he stood. I made my way up to the entrance and turned in. I prayed with Doug that God would use this moment, that this would not just provide for this man's temporary physical needs, but somehow that we could share Jesus with him. I know that what he needed was hope...to believe that God saw him.

"For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger am you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. And these righteous ones replied, 'Lord, when did we ever see you and and feed you? Or see you thirsty and give you drink? Or a stranger and give you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'." - Matthew 25:35-40

I brought the car to a stop at the far corner of the parking lot and got out, taking the food with us (I had put some money in the bag as well). I called to the man and held out the bag. When he saw the bag and the cool drink in my hand, his face lit up and was suddenly animated. "Thank you, thank you, God bless you...oh bless you" He said as he took the offering and quickly sat down on the curbing under a tree. We watched as he hurriedly took out the hamburger and ate large bites, breathing them in like air, as if he had been trapped under water and had finally broken the surface...he gulped it in. It was obvious that he had not eaten for some time. It occurred to me that I had a bible in my glove compartment. I quickly went to the car as he ate and brought it back to him. He was pulling the soda hard through the straw as I spoke. "I am not sure what you believe" I said, "But I would like to give you my bible"", I continued..."You see I can only imagine how hard things are for you right now, and I know that the food I bought for you will be finished soon, and you will get hungry again, but this food (I held up the bible in the air and his gaze fell upon it) this will keep you satisfied and full. I know it sounds impossible, but it is true. " I looked into his eyes and he stopped chewing, "I want to tell you that God loves you...that He sees you, that I am here for a reason, that He wants you to come to him. Please keep this and read this and if you can, believe what I am telling you. There is some money in the bag for some more food", I said and began to leave. "Wait", he said, "Are you sure, don't you need it?" I have a lot of bibles at home", I said, "I want you to have this one". "Thank you", he said with sincerity and I saw his eyes begin to fill in the corners. "I wish I could do more" I said", and meant it.

Doug and I got back into the car and I took him out to eat at a nearby restaurant. When we were done, we went back to see if the man was still there (and truth be told, to see if he took the bible with him). He was gone, and so was the bible. Funny thing was that there was a bunch of trash in the parking lot...none of it was from Sonic. This man, homeless and hungry...thirsty and desperate, had cleaned up and not littered, as passersby threw trash out of there expensive cars seemingly without regret.

This morning I awoke to a raging rainstorm. Thunder...lightening...sheets of water fell from the sky and quickly large puddles were forming in the thick grass outside my window. All I could think of was the man from the road...I prayed that he had found shelter...I prayed that he still had his bible...I prayed that he knew that God had not abandoned him, and I cried...thankful for all that I have been blessed with...

I know that by some standards, I don't have a lot...but my rich treasure is stored in heaven, where it lasts forever. My greatest provision will always be Jesus and the love that he has given me to share.