Just a Little Time

I smiled today...at the library. Headed in to send off a fax and out of the corner of my eye, I happened to see an older man, who looked like a Grandpa with a boy on his knee, who looked like he was 3. The little boy was smiling and turning pages as he held a book, pretending to 'read.' The older man just smiled..and listened. I work with toddlers every day...and know the 'pretend reading' so well that they love to do. They look so serious, and obviously proud that they are reading the words, usually with animation...creating some sort of story about the characters on the page that relates to their life.

As I walked out to my car and got ready to drive off, I saw the man, carrying the boy to the car to put him in his carseat. A simple thing like story reading....nurture, love, time...these can change a child who can then change a world. It's the little things.
Matthew 25:40 
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Wisdom at Walmart

Only God Can Judge...was what her tattoo said...written in cursive across her collarbone as I checked out in the Wal-Mart checkout line. I asked her, the checker, about it, and she said she got it after she had had people judge her for what she looked like. I told her I had heard somewhere that it's easier to judge someone than it is to hear their real story. We agreed and I told her she had a powerful message to share.
Wisdom at Wal-Mart. You just never know!

 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7: 1&2

You are Welcome To Come Back

The other day, I dropped some clothes off at the local "Peace Park" founded by an amazing guy named Otis who created this park to create peace in the neighborhood and provide goods for those in need in the community. As I pulled up to this funky looking shelter and pulled out my burlap orange bag full of a random assortment of clothes, several kids immediately surrounded me, asking if they could help.
As we pulled out clothes to put on the shelves, a little boy who looked like he was in Kindergarten, in a worn out corduroy blue, red, and yellow coat, looked up at me with big eyes. I got on his level to say HI and he gave me a big hug, never saying a word. The kids tried on some clothes and when they found out that none of them fit, asked me for candy. No candy, but I did happen to have some kids "I Love Jesus" stickers with me and they grabbed them as quick as a flash. One little girl shook the bag out that I had brought, seemingly searching for any remnants of...well...anything. A nickel fell out of the bag pocket, and she grabbed it quickly and ran off  with it.

When the last dress went on the shelf, a sweet lady walked up to us and started picking out clothes she liked. She pointed to her friend, who was asleep on the bench, saying they were homeless. She had a patch over her eye and said that she just got back from the hospital due to a spider bite from sleeping outside. She repeated "Thank you, thank you" over and over again and filled a whole bag of clothes. She had such a sweet spirit, the biggest warm smile, and talked about how the kids that come over to the park are 'great kids' and how her friend was trying to get a job so they wouldn't have to be homeless anymore.
Just as she was talking, an older woman walked over and told me how she was raising 9 grandkids on her own because their dads weren't good. She seemed to be very weary and looked younger than her age in a hoodie and a ponytail. She had a lot to say...about how she used to be homeless, but now has a house. She asked me if I knew anywhere that had diapers and formula, so I guess there were babies in the house, but only saw elementary aged kids. As we were talking two girls, who looked to be in the 4th grade, stood eye to eye and chest to chest about to fight. The woman started yelling at them to stop, but didn't make any move to split them apart. They looked serious. I don't usually meddle, but this seemed like it could get too crazy. I walked over and asked if they were sisters. They said that they were friends. I talked to them for a little bit and they walked away from each other. Then, the other little kids came around, telling me "You are welcome anytime. Come back." They seemed very hungry for attention and tried to give me a hug. You know, some strangers can be wierd, and I thought, "If these kids are hugging me and they don't even know me....who would they hug?" It's crazy to me that to show Gods love in this world can be considered strange or illegal in some places. I just talked to them about strangers...I pray that they get the love they need to grow.

All this...on a Saturday afternoon reminded me there is such a need for love...in the raw, real, gritty and sometimes pretty...city.