9.08.2010

There was a man...


There was a man on a corner today. Standing with cardboard in hand, two bags on the ground and whom appeared to be homeless. The sign said something very similar to this...

I AM HOMELESS
I AM TIRED
I HAVE COME A LONG WAY
ANYTHING WILL HELP

GOD BLESS YOU!

He was unshaven, he looked very sad, yet held his head with pride. My heart swelled with sadness, knowing that there are people that are living a life they had never planned for. People that have fallen into hard times and don't know how to pick themselves back up.

As I approached the busy corner, yes I was curious. I drove up slow to the red-light, so I could read the sign he was holding. I was turning right, so I could stop and then go, if the road was clear. As I approached this man, I was frantically digging in my pockets, I knew I had some money in my pocket and in the first pocket -- no money...

I quickly put my hand in my other pocket and yes! I had found a few bucks. I slowly turned slightly around the corner and pulled to the side a bit. I rolled down my passenger window and yelled out sir, he didn't hear me. Again, I said sir, as I was reaching out my hand and he reached into my van to take the money from my hand. He touched my hand, as he took the money. I told him; it is only a couple dollars, it is all I had in my pocket; he said God Bless You. It almost brought me to tears, knowing that just a few dollars could make a difference to him.

You are probably thinking, why is she telling this story? Well, because each of us need to open up our minds, our hearts and be Thankful for what we do have and not worry about the things we do not have. I told my son this story and started the story like this....There was a Homeless man and he said, how do you know he was homeless? He said, he could have been a person just trying to scam you for money. Perhaps he was a person that didn't want to work and was just asking for a hand-out, I don't know. I just followed my heart and thought he could use a few bucks. I have done this many times and I would like to think in some small way; that I made a difference..

My thoughts are this; we see what we want to see.

Who you are determines what you see.
Who you are determines how you see others.
The way people see others is a reflection of themselves.
If I am trusting, I will see others as trusting.
If I am critical, I will see others as critical.
If I am a caring person, I will see others as compassionate.

"You teach people how to treat you."
--Phil McGraw

9 comments:

Cindy said...

Thank you so much for this beautiful post. It was a great way to start my day!

West Side of Straight said...

A great post, and a wonderful quote by Dr Phil. You did good in giving him what extra you had. I also have done so, yet wondered, and hoped that it wasn't going to be used for booze. It is hard to see and yet harder for parents to explain to little ones how homelessness can happen. It is unfortunate and we are seeing more homeless in our small rural towns.

carla said...

Thanks and I agree with you!!!! hugs

Sue said...

Minnesota nice! Everyone should pass it on. I know I will. Thanks Tonya.

Heidi said...

The Dr. Phil quote is one of my favorites. I also find myself quoting Dr. Phil's "no matter how flat you make a pancake, it still has two sides". It makes me sad to see homeless people out on the corners too. It was so kind of you to help him. :)

My Little Raggedy Blessings said...

Big Hugs sweetie ..love the post and the quote . a very good reminder to be thankful for what blessings we do have and how to look with our hearts ...thank-you for that . I have been working very hard at finding that part of me again .Your post put a great big smile on my face today :)

Bless your heart
Renae

Anonymous said...

So true my friend... You did the right thing, I know, it can be hard to believe in the good or need in others sometimes... However, I think if you follow your heart, you are most always right... It is when our head gets involved that we become cynical... Hugs and Loves.. Me

Janice said...

You did the right thing and followed your heart! It doesn't matter if he does buy booze or drugs or whatever he may do with it, if those are the things he needs to get through each day then so be it! Who are we to judge! It takes guts to sit on a corner holding a sign and not care what others think of you! Hugs to You For Doing What You Thought Was Right!!

~Janice

It reminds me of the song-

Don't Laugh At Me

By, Mark Wills
Such a Touching Song!! =)

Carol Ann said...

Don't ever give up on your instincts to do good things. That's one of the biggest problems in the world these days, people have forgotten what it means to take care of each other. So many of them just look out for themselves. You have to hold on to the memory that we werea all given emotions and empathy to be used not to be ignored. Feelings are the real and true universal language. You have it figured out :o)