Every homeless outreach burns some striking image into my mind. Many of them make me smile, make me feel fulfilled in a way only reaching out and helping others can. But some expose me to so much pain that I have never imagined. One that haunts me and I can hardly hold back the tears when my mind goes back to the day when a young girl no more than 18 came late after we were packing up and all the food was gone. She was going through one of the bins when I noticed her shivering as she was in a tank top and shorts with only light flip flops on. It was lucky to be much above 20 degrees that late winter day. Nothing in the bins were left for her and all the food was gone. I went over and began to talk to her and she said she needed a coat. Nothing was left for her... I felt so badly as it always bothers me to have needs go unmet but I realize the need is so big ... all the needs will never be met fully. Jesus said the poor we will have among us always and reminds me of that when I often feel badly when someone goes away empty. The young girl was so sweet about the fact our bins were empty and the food was gone. I asked her what I could do to help her... go to Dicks and buy her food? Go get her a coat?... anything I was willing to do. She sweetly said, No but thank you so much. I asked, Please is there anything I can do to help you?. She stopped and looked at me with large eyes filled with loss and pain and simply said, I could use a hug. I wrapped my arms around her and as I did that young women laid her head on my shoulder and sobbed for a long time as I held her and allowed her to cry on my shoulder. We never exchanged a word but I hugged her back as she held on to me. This was something different than making homemade food and giving them a smile and treating them like a friend. This was deep and moved something so deep inside of me that I will never forget it. It is one thing to feed people we dont know in Jesus name but quite another to share their pain in such a way. After the hug and a shoulder to cry on she looked at me with a smile and she said, Thank you . You gave me what I really needed. And with that she turned and walked away from my sight and from my life. I often think about her and pray for her. I am forever changed because of that hug. We often forget the importance of the human touch to people. In our world today it is scary to touch, to reach out... often even unwise and unsafe. But I had to take that chance and I am so glad I did. I know that Jesus not only touched people with his words and teaching but I can see him being a shoulder to cry on. More than food or a warm coat... God sent her that day to have a hug and a shoulder to cry on.... I have to leave the rest up to Him...
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:29:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015