Signs...

Em excited to start handing out sandwiches

So, in our Pilot in the front passenger seat, if something or someone weighs too little, the airbag automatically shuts off. Because of this safety feature, I put Em's seat up front with me so she could help hand out P, B, & J's. She was really excited to share food with people. We hit a usual corner, meaning, a place where there are always people with signs asking for money. We were at the stop light and I hung my head out the window with a bag lunch and water bottle in hand. I asked the guy if he wanted some lunch but he turned us down. His sign read, "Deaf in left ear Blind in left eye 6 year veteran Hungry Anything helps". Em said, "I guess he just wanted alcohol, mommy." I assured her not all homeless people are alcoholics, but a lot of them like money since they can go to homeless shelters for food. However, 'Anything helps' must only mean money...

Most of the signs said something to the effect of "Will work for food" or "Disabled Vet, For Hire" or the one I have seen on 3 different corners held by 3 different guys, "Short $18 rent. Father of 3. Anything helps." I must say, I think that it is interesting that 3 different guys on 3 different corners are all fathers of 3 and short the exact amount of rent money, but hey, maybe I'm a little cynical...Anyway...

So there was this one guy on the corner of Speer and Colfax, a very hot spot. The first time we were approaching him, the light was green so we prayed that God would turn it red. It stayed green so we had to proceed through the light and turn left. Em said, "Mom, why didn't God turn the light red?" I said, "Maybe because someone around the block needs lunch." Sure enough, Em spotted a guy around the corner so we handed him lunch. On our second trip around the block, Em wanted me to 'gun it' through a yellow light so we could make the other light. I didn't 'gun it' and so we missed the light again! I thought, "There are a lot of other homeless people we could feed, we'll just head to another block." But Em said, "Mom, I really want to feed that guy. Please go around the block one more time."

We went around the block once more and finally got a red light. I waved the guy down and asked him if he wanted lunch. He said, "Thank you girls so much. God bless you both." His sign simply read, "Christ is the Lord." Em thought that was pretty much the coolest thing of the day. In fact, when I asked her what her favorite part of today was she said, "Seeing that guy's sign and sharing food with hungry people."

She's excited for it to become a monthly outreach. Next time we'll go out on foot. It made my heart happy to see how excited she was to share. She's got such a huge heart! I'd love to hear more stories of how God has shown you the gifts in your children...