Goodmorning to you my friends,
This week, as I have made my way through the busy-ness of managing my household, running errands, going to meetings etc, the dandelion seeds were blowing in the air. The seeds in the air brought to my memory the scripture which speaks of how the flower flourishes, but is gone tomorrow, so it is with man. It caused a man popped into my memory. Years ago in our lil' city, there was an old man who used go into our local grocery store and just sip on coffee. He seemed very lonely.
We never saw him with anyone and he seemed to be disconnected from life. Every time I saw him, I would smile and just say a simple hello. He would nod and walk on by. One morning when I took my children to the store, yes, all of them, my oldest son asked me about that man. He asked me if he could say hello to him. I said, "Sure. I am sure he would appreciate that."
My lil' rascal said hello and directly went over to his table and sat with him. My perfectly scruffy lil' boy, just sat with him. The innocence of the child. He went to fill the need which stood out to him, and went to be with him offering the simplicity of his presence. The man slowly looked up from the table, and looked directly at my lil' boy who just sat watching him. A smile spread across that man's face. We had never seen him smile. His eyes teared up and he just smiled. There they sat...together...in silence.
That child had nothing to offer him, did not do anything spectacular, just offered him a connection. Nothing amazing happened, to anyone else walking by, it was just a table where an old man was sitting with a child. Nonetheless, in the heart of that man, a connection was made by one who sought him out. My son is one of 10 children and rich in fellowship. He simply could not understand how someone could be alone. He perceived a need and met it.
From that day forward, whenever we went shopping, my son would ask if we could go say hi to "that man." Every time we went into that store, if he was sitting in there having his coffee, my son would bounce over and say hello. Eventually, the man looked for him and would smile and wave and even began to speak to us. Never opened up or elaborated about anything, just a friendly hello and a smile.
As the months unfolded, suddenly he was gone. We looked for him, he was not there. We watched for his car, never saw it anymore. One day at church, I was telling a woman about that man and how the poor man was so lonely. As it turned out, she knew exactly who he was and filled me in on the rest of his story. He had lost everything and had been living in his car. He drove a big Oldsmobile. She informed me that he parked it at the end of their road in the evenings and slept in his car. Peaceful man, never bothered anyone. However, once this woman had discovered his situation, she would make him dinner and send it down to him with her children. She too had a large family, so she would send the "mob" down to feed him dinner.
On Thanksgiving morning, the family had decided to invite him for dinner. The children scurried down the street to invite him and bring him home with them, and they found that he had passed away quietly during the cold winter night. None of us ever learned of the facts of his story, but it has enriched my family and the value we place on the lives of those around us.
The bible states clearly "15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." (Psalm 103:15 & 16)
While I was running to and fro the other day, caring to the details of our lives, this popped into my head. I just want to say, loneliness is real. How many people walk on past us daily and dart their eyes to avert a connection due to loneliness or just plain fear. Fear of making a connection. Fear of judgement, fear of embarrassment or hatred or rejection? Whatever the reason, reach out and reach in. Encourage someone today.
Each of us will live on this earth, in this life, until God's appointed time for us to leave this earth. While we remain, we are all in the same boat, so to speak. We all need to be loved, and we need a connection to other people. If our focus is on esteeming others as higher than ourselves we will give of ourselves today and seek to serve those around us. Give a simple smile, or a happy word. You may be the only person who seeks to identify with that one who is aching in loneliness. "A child shall lead them" speaks of Jesus Christ in the bible, and the principle applies here. In the innocence of his simple desire to relieve that man's suffering, my son thought nothing of himself, and gave all that he had to give of himself by simply sitting with that man. Those children trundling along excited to give the gift of a meal to that man who had nothing, proceeded focused on giving. Assuming and expecting nothing in return.
One heart at a time, let us reach out to one another in honesty and kindness and take back this generation. Touch the life of someone today.
This week, as I have made my way through the busy-ness of managing my household, running errands, going to meetings etc, the dandelion seeds were blowing in the air. The seeds in the air brought to my memory the scripture which speaks of how the flower flourishes, but is gone tomorrow, so it is with man. It caused a man popped into my memory. Years ago in our lil' city, there was an old man who used go into our local grocery store and just sip on coffee. He seemed very lonely.
We never saw him with anyone and he seemed to be disconnected from life. Every time I saw him, I would smile and just say a simple hello. He would nod and walk on by. One morning when I took my children to the store, yes, all of them, my oldest son asked me about that man. He asked me if he could say hello to him. I said, "Sure. I am sure he would appreciate that."
My lil' rascal said hello and directly went over to his table and sat with him. My perfectly scruffy lil' boy, just sat with him. The innocence of the child. He went to fill the need which stood out to him, and went to be with him offering the simplicity of his presence. The man slowly looked up from the table, and looked directly at my lil' boy who just sat watching him. A smile spread across that man's face. We had never seen him smile. His eyes teared up and he just smiled. There they sat...together...in silence.
That child had nothing to offer him, did not do anything spectacular, just offered him a connection. Nothing amazing happened, to anyone else walking by, it was just a table where an old man was sitting with a child. Nonetheless, in the heart of that man, a connection was made by one who sought him out. My son is one of 10 children and rich in fellowship. He simply could not understand how someone could be alone. He perceived a need and met it.
From that day forward, whenever we went shopping, my son would ask if we could go say hi to "that man." Every time we went into that store, if he was sitting in there having his coffee, my son would bounce over and say hello. Eventually, the man looked for him and would smile and wave and even began to speak to us. Never opened up or elaborated about anything, just a friendly hello and a smile.
As the months unfolded, suddenly he was gone. We looked for him, he was not there. We watched for his car, never saw it anymore. One day at church, I was telling a woman about that man and how the poor man was so lonely. As it turned out, she knew exactly who he was and filled me in on the rest of his story. He had lost everything and had been living in his car. He drove a big Oldsmobile. She informed me that he parked it at the end of their road in the evenings and slept in his car. Peaceful man, never bothered anyone. However, once this woman had discovered his situation, she would make him dinner and send it down to him with her children. She too had a large family, so she would send the "mob" down to feed him dinner.
On Thanksgiving morning, the family had decided to invite him for dinner. The children scurried down the street to invite him and bring him home with them, and they found that he had passed away quietly during the cold winter night. None of us ever learned of the facts of his story, but it has enriched my family and the value we place on the lives of those around us.
The bible states clearly "15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." (Psalm 103:15 & 16)
While I was running to and fro the other day, caring to the details of our lives, this popped into my head. I just want to say, loneliness is real. How many people walk on past us daily and dart their eyes to avert a connection due to loneliness or just plain fear. Fear of making a connection. Fear of judgement, fear of embarrassment or hatred or rejection? Whatever the reason, reach out and reach in. Encourage someone today.
Each of us will live on this earth, in this life, until God's appointed time for us to leave this earth. While we remain, we are all in the same boat, so to speak. We all need to be loved, and we need a connection to other people. If our focus is on esteeming others as higher than ourselves we will give of ourselves today and seek to serve those around us. Give a simple smile, or a happy word. You may be the only person who seeks to identify with that one who is aching in loneliness. "A child shall lead them" speaks of Jesus Christ in the bible, and the principle applies here. In the innocence of his simple desire to relieve that man's suffering, my son thought nothing of himself, and gave all that he had to give of himself by simply sitting with that man. Those children trundling along excited to give the gift of a meal to that man who had nothing, proceeded focused on giving. Assuming and expecting nothing in return.
One heart at a time, let us reach out to one another in honesty and kindness and take back this generation. Touch the life of someone today.
Comments
Post a Comment