in disguise

*originally published december 18, 2009

Last Tuesday, Dominic and I decided to go to a late lunch down the street at Max & Erma's. While we were driving, it started to blizzard. It was terrible out! As we sat at our table and ate our meal, I noticed a man sitting in the booth across the aisle from us who was probably in his late 70's. This man had shiny white hair that was neatly combed, and his turtleneck was tucked into his nicely pressed pants. He was so cute, all dressed up like that. It broke my heart because I took note that he wasn't all dressed up to meet one of his kids, a friend, or even his wife. He sat alone.

As I ate my meal, I couldn't help but to keep glancing over at him. He ordered a coffee and a cup of soup and just stared out the window at the falling snow. My mind started to race as I was consumed with figuring out his situation. I don't know any details for sure, but something in my heart was stirring. He looked like a man who wasn't used to sitting alone, and it made me wonder if he had just lost a loved one, or even his wife.

I looked at Dominic and he was thinking the same thing. We decided to buy his dinner in some small effort to give back to someone who had braved the storm to just get out of the house. We paid anonymously, and although we didn't wait to see his reaction, we didn't have to. Our waitress had a tear in her eye - she had also been thinking the same thing.

I say all that to say this -- what can you give? Coffee and soup is such a small cost, yet can have such a great impact. You never know who around you is going through a rough time or needing a blessing. Maybe that man was just hungry and wanted soup and his wife didn't wanna get out in the snow -- who knows! The point is this: listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and BLESS SOMEONE this Christmas season! God gave his LIFE, the LEAST we can do is give back to mankind in some small way.

1 John 3:1617

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or a sister in need butshows no compassion -- how can God's love be in that person?"

More than half of the earth wouldn't be able to pay for someone's soup. More than half of the earth lives for only $1 a day. Out of a shear miracle, you were born here, now, and with wealth that is far above the standards of the rest of the world. When I speak of wealth, I'm not talking about a lot of money. I am talking about any amount of money. Use what God has blessed you with for someone in need.

Matthew 25:37-40

"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.'

Jesus gave his LIFE for you. Do your part to show the love of God in this Christmas season!

Lindsay