I remember it like it was yesterday. I was living in the house next to the student center while I was attending college. It was about 8:30pm, and I heard a knock on the front door. I opened the door and there stood a skinny man probably in his mid 50’s. He had a rough looking face with a shaggy looking beard. His clothes were worn and dirty. He just looked worn out. I said hello and asked what I could do for him. With a soft tender voice he said, “Can I trim your hedges or wash your car for a few dollars?” Remember, this is 8:30 at night! He continued to say that he just started a job painting houses and that he was living in a hotel. He was getting his first check at the end of the week, but it was time to pay for his hotel room. He didn’t have the money because he just started this job, but if he didn’t pay then he would have to find some place to go until he got his paycheck. I asked him if he had another place to go and he said no.
I felt so bad for this man. Something inside just made me feel that he was being honest. I mean, he wasn’t just asking for money. He was asking if he could work for some money. So, I went all through the house looking for some money because I was broke too (who has money in college?). I couldn’t find any. I asked the man if he was hungry and his eyes got real wide, so I found him some left over pizza in the refrigerator. I sat him down on a bench outside and asked him to give me a few minutes to find some money. He patiently sat on the bench eating the cold pizza as I went over to the student center to find him some money. There were students in there playing games but I couldn’t get any money from them. I even got a speech about how I shouldn’t trust anyone because once I give them money; they will be back for more. I couldn’t help it; I believed this guy and wanted to help him out.
After about twenty minutes of looking for some money I finally gave up. I walked back outside to find the man so that I could tell him the bad news. I was so disappointed in myself for not finding this guy any money. As I was approaching the man I noticed he had finished the pizza and had now closed his eyes. I woke him up and told him the bad news. He looked at me and said, “Sir, I thank you so much.”
I told him I didn’t do anything. “Why are you thanking me,” I asked.
He said, “This is the longest I have sat down in a long time and that pizza was delicious. You’ve done more than you realize. Thank you.” He said goodbye and disappeared in the darkness as I just sat on the bench with tears in my eyes because I’ve never been thankful for cold pizza and hard wooden benches.
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving!
Colossians 4:2
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