Small Change

Two days ago, we were on our way home from the grocery store and we saw a panhandler standing on a corner. He was elderly. It was cold. He was dripping snot, and he looked frightful.

When I saw him standing there, I just couldn't help myself. I pulled over, rolled down the window, grabbed his cold dirty hands in mine and silently prayed. It only lasted a few seconds and then, to his great happiness I poured the quarters, dimes and nickles into his cupped hands.

As we drove away my youngest child murmured, "That poor, poor man."

My oldest child pondered, "I wonder what he'll do with all of that change?"

Without hesitating, I replied, "Well, maybe he'll buy beer; or who knows, maybe he'll buy a sandwich."

And then I surprised myself and I quoted from the Bible.

Me, quoting from the Bible?

Yes me; and let me just say, that this was nothing short minor miracle.

You see, I am hopeless at memorizing scripture. I can't remember more than four, maybe five verses and that's only if I'm having particularly good day. So, I was quite surprised to find these verses flowing over my tongue and out my lips:

Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;

let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
~Proverbs 31:6-9

I don't know if that man bought a sandwich or a beer; but, I would have given him my change either way.

I suppose this makes me a lot of things to a lot of different people. Some might see me as weak. Others might see me as enabling. My own husband thinks me foolish.

All I know, is that in that moment, when I looked at that cold tired man, as I held his cold hands in mine, I saw myself kneeling at the foot of the cross because I saw Christ in that panhandler's wizened, snotty visage.

I can only hope, that in some small way, in some miraculous way, he saw Christ in me.

That's all that really matters....

...to me anyway.

(And perhaps to God as well.)