This says a little about them and a lot about me…
I’ve never really judged the homeless, or those holding signs but I’ve certainly been curious about what their story is and if they legitimately need the help. I found out recently, it doesn’t really matter….
I met Victor and Dezi a few Sundays ago. I was taking the kids to lunch after church and I gave them the option of Taco Bell or In-N-Out and they chose Taco Bell. As we were pulling in, I saw them sitting on the back of their car holding a sign that simply said, “Just Hungry”
At first I didn’t think anything of it or them, but as we got to the door I looked at the kids and told them “I think we need to buy them lunch”
As we walked over to them I could tell that they were really dirty and probably hadn’t bathed in a while, I let them know we would buy them lunch and they hopped off their car and said “cool”
Half way there, I turned around and asked if I could know their story, they simply said they were down on their luck and I didn’t push for any other answer but I noticed Dezi’s face and it showed every sign of addiction and my eyes welled with tears. I told them about losing my son to a drug overdose and how it had changed the way I see everything. They were so sympathetic and apologetic to my circumstance. There was a time I would have had the attitude, DON’T BE STUPID..STOP USING DRUGS, but I simply wanted to hold her and tell her how lovely she was. My mommy heart that was so freshly broken by the loss of my own child was so overcome with emotion about this young lady with so much life still in her.
When we went in to order, they each ordered off the dollar menu and asked for water, I told them they could have whatever they wanted so they each got one more dollar item. They were both so thankful for the food and I was so thankful for the experience.
When they drove off I really wished I had gotten a picture of them (lesson learned) because they weren’t just homeless, or down on their luck. They were real people, with a real story, struggling to get through another day.
We all have opinions, we all have the right to one… but we are called to love and not to judge the hurting, the lost and the simple down on their luck. They get to stand before God one day to give an account of all they’ve done, and guess what, so do I. I will never be sorry that I took the time to make their day a little bit better by buying a dollar menu item at Taco Bell so they could have a full belly and walk away knowing there are still people who care in this world.
“To truly love is to look past the visible.. to see the heart of what really matters.””
I could have looked away, but I would have missed an opportunity to show love and be changed in the process.
There are people all around us, with a story we know nothing about, what a beautiful thing to simply love them where they’re at and be blessed in return.
You Are Lovely… don’t believe the lie