It was Thursday afternoon. My kiddos were spending the afternoon with their grandparents. I had picked up some lunch and I was on my way downtown to teach piano lessons. This is what my Thursdays typically looks like.
Often this is my opportunity for a little treat. If I get everything set up in time, I once in a while will walk down the block for a bit of frozen yogurt. This particular day was hot and I was looking forward to it; I had saved back a little cash just for this occasion.
As I pulled into the parking lot of the church where I teach, a woman approached me. She walked with a limp, her hair was matted, and the few teeth she did have were decaying. As she came closer, it was apparent that she had not had the privilege of bathing in quite some time. My initial reaction was to bolt. I wanted to run away, to pretend that I didn’t see her. But my feet were glued to the place where I was standing.
She started talking. Something about she hadn’t eaten in a while and needed some money, could I spare a few dollars so she could buy something to eat? Now, normally I don’t carry any cash. ever. We are a debit card kind of family. But today – there was ice cream money. And of course she didn’t know that, but I did. And He did.
While she continued talking, trying to tell me her situation, I had another conversation. with Him.
“Really, do I have to give my ice cream money to her? really?”
“Would you give Me your ice cream money?”
“That’s not fair! Of course I would give You the ice cream money. I love you!”
“You’re supposed to care for her too… ”
Why was this so hard? I know the Scripture. Jesus asked us to share our blessings with those less fortunate. And when we do that, we are actually caring for Him. But, it was not sinking in so well here on the street with this woman…I dug in my purse, fished out the three one dollar bills and handed them to her. She said things like God bless you, thank you and that kind of thing. I just stood there in a haze and watched her move across the street.
Since then I’ve thought about it a lot. I’ve wondered what she possibly could have purchased with my three bucks – did she get some water or some packets of crackers from Wal Greens? Its not like she could go buy drugs or cigarettes with that money – she didn’t have enough… One thing is certain : as I stood frozen by my car in the heat of the day, it seemed as though the noon-time sun was shining down on me, brightly illuminating my selfish, hard heart.
Its so easy for me to embrace the idea that the “least of these” meant children, or people who are disabled – that kind of thing. But – a homeless person, a socially undesirable person – surely Jesus didn’t really mean them too? did He? Yes! I think He did.
These are His words from Matthew 25:
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Dear Lord,
Please give me a new perspective – one that sees You when I see others in need, no matter who they are. Continue your work in my life so that I have a generous heart. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my ice cream money with you. I promise, I will do it again when you ask. amen.
daily portion 