The Beggar

I was driving past Food Lion today (formerly known as Bloom) and saw a man standing on the side of the street. He was holding a cardboard sign that read "Need job. 4 kids to feed." I've seen this man standing out in the cold before, but I always passed by him without a second thought.

Today was different.

Today I was hit with the realization of this mans life. How down on his luck he must he be to have to stand on the side of the road and beg for people to help him provide basic necessities for his family. The people he loves most. The people he is responsible for taking care of.

As I sped past him, late for tutoring, my heart stayed where he was standing.

I began wrestling with so many questions in my head. What if that was my dad? Would anyone help us? How long has he been standing out in the biting cold? Is his house any warmer? How old are his kids? Are they cold at night?

My heart was aching for them.

Yet, I kept driving.

When I got to tutoring we read a stories about people who gave to people like the man I saw. We read of men like Larry Stewart (read his story here) who gave up time and money to help people they saw in need. My tutor asked me if I thought Larry was a christian, and if he was, how would his giving be different than if he wasn't.

I thought about it and came to the conclusion that when you are a christian, we can give all we have. Why? Because God promises that he will provide for us exactly what we need. We don't need to hold onto our money. We can give freely!

But I didn't.

As soon as those words came out of my mouth I felt convicted. I planned to stop and see how I could help him on my way home. All I had was $7 in my wallet, but Food Lion was right there. How easily could I buy him some groceries with my debit card?

With Christmas coming up, I doubt any of those kids will get anything for Christmas. How horrible, as a parent, must that feel? How easily could I have gone with him to pick out some toys?

Do I have a lot of money? No, not really. But I'm not supporting my family. I'm not even supporting myself. God has given us so much. And that man has so little.

When I passed by going home, he wasn't there anymore. Maybe he got tired of standing in the cold.

I hope it means someone helped him and his family.

I hope it means they will have Christmas with gifts.

I hope it means no one under that roof is hungry.

I hope it means they saw a gimps of Jesus in someone today.