Hi Steve, I agree with this one. We all need help in some way or another. Thanks for sharing. Original message: > DON'T WE ALL > I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from > the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way > from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the > looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There > are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just > don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't want to be bothered > times." > "I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. > He didn't. > He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like > he could have enough money to even ride the bus. > After a few minutes he spoke. > "That's a very pretty car," he said. > He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond > beard keep more than his face warm. > I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car. > He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. > As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he > needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the > inner voice. > "Do you need any help?" I asked. > He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We > often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of > higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched > grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me. > "Don't we all?" he said. > I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the > street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun. > Don't we all? > I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed > help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but > enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words > still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have > accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter > how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, > you can give help. Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. > You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They > are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different > perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily > chaos, that only you through a torn world can see. > Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he > was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to > minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves. > Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, > "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help." > Don't we all?
> A single candle can illuminate an entire room. A true friend lights up > an entire lifetime. Thanks for the bright lights of your friendship. > -- Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
