a hug and a turkey sandwich

Leaving work on Friday, I was still completely torn up about my encounter with the homeless man (who I'll now refer to as HM since I don't know his name). While leaving I noticed a gentleman and a lady talking to him (the man was talking) and HM was just bawling. Keep in mind that he's a big man, so to see him reduced to tears like that was even sadder than when I prayed with him. The strange man was talking and comforting HM. I said a prayer and went home. The next day I gathered some snack packs, crackers, juice, water, and a few other treats and put in a huge bag and came back to work to see if I could find him. He wasn't around. I was supposed to go back and see if he was there later in the day but something happened and I didn't get a chance. He was on my mind all weekend long though. The weather was chillier and I was just praying that he was safe, warm, and hopefully fed. Three more days passed and I still hadn't seen him. I was hoping this meant that someone helped him get some shelter (I tried to ignore the dark thoughts in my mind that something could have possibly happened to him).

Anyway, today I saw him as I was walking into work! The funny thing is, I had been carrying this same bag of food and snacks around with me since Saturday, hoping that I'd run into him. Today I decided to just leave it in my car and of course I run into him. lol. So on my lunch break I decided to run back home and pick up a shirt, a pair of shoes, and a jacket that my brother wasn't wearing anymore. I made him a turkey sandwich, grabbed the snacks, and then headed back out praying that he was on the bench.

He was there!! I walked up next to him and told him that I had been looking for him on Saturday but couldn't find him. Also that I had some snacks that I wanted to give and that I made a sandwich for him to have today. Plus there were some clothes in the bag and hopefully they fit. He had the BIGGEST grin on his face the whole time that we were talking and just clutched that bag of snacks so tightly. His entire aura was different from the last time that I saw him. He looked at me and said "Girl, can I go with you?". We both laughed, but little does he know...I wish I could. Then I told him that I worked in the building and though I didn't have much now, but that I was always thinking about him and praying for him and would try to help out more if I can. Randomly, he complimented me on my voice. He said "you have such a nice voice. You're so precious. Can I please give you a hug? I know I'm..." and I cut him off. I'm assuming that he was about to make apologies for his appearance/smell and convince me that I should give him a hug. I needed no convincing. I've been wanting to hug this man since I first saw him a few weeks ago. I reached down and gave him a hug and he hugged me so tightly! I seriously haven't had a hug like that in a long time. I told him to take care, and I went back to work. No tears from either of us this time. Just a warm heart and a full spirit.

God is so great. During the darkest times in your life, it's easy to feel as if God has forgotten you. But he will send you a signal that He hasn't forgotten you. And he gives you some hope, in what you feel is a hopeless situation. I don't know HM's story. I'm hoping to one day find out. I don't know how his life is going to work out. But based on the way that his attitude has shifted in just a few short days, I'm praying that he is able to see evidence of Christ's love revealed through the kindness of a few strangers. I pray that by people reaching out to him and helping him out, he has a renewed hope that perhaps his valley experience won't be always, and that God hasn't forgotten him.

The same goes for us. Regardless of your situation, no matter how dark your night...there is HOPE! (Jeremiah 29:11)