As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
Thank you, God, for the lesson I seem to need once again.
On a summer morning last year, I stopped at Starbucks before heading to pick up my dad for an oral surgery appointment. As I walked toward the store, I crossed paths with a homeless woman. All the obvious clues were there. Mis-matched clothing, worn in layers. House slippers for shoes on her shuffling feet. Crazy hair. Quiet muttering, speaking only to herself.
Coffee waited for me inside, and I had an appointment to meet. I didn’t pause as I walked past her. The woman was youngish, between 30-40 years old. A frown creased her face, and her jaw clenched with a belligerent jut.
She paid me no attention and arranged her collection of plastic bags on a table on the outdoor porch.
Waiting in line for my coffee, I watched the reactions of the people inside. The barista kept glancing outside, worry in his eyes. Was he wishing she hadn’t set up camp at his store? She was dirty and didn’t present a welcoming presence to customers arriving for their morning pick-me-up. Two women seated inside at a small, round table eyed her avidly, whispering to each other as they laughed, shiny nails glittering on their fingertips, lipstick kisses on the lids of their coffees.
I should talk to her on my way back to my car. Homeless people feel invisible, ignored by the world bustling past them. I should take the few seconds required to ask her a question, say hello. Would she be argumentative if I spoke to her?
She looked angry. Many homeless suffer from mental illness and can be combative. I glanced at my watch. I had time to stop for coffee. Did I have time to stop for her?
She walked off of the porch and around to the drive-thru. My eyes widened, and I stepped back so I could watch her progress. What was she doing now? What were the people waiting in line in their cars thinking, watching her approach? She startled me by climbing right into the landscaping. The leaves of Asian jasmine still dripped from their early morning spraying from the automatic sprinklers. The water droplets would soak her clothing.
The crazy thing she did? She plucked trash from the bushes, then climbed back out and deposited it into a waste can.
God, forgive me.
The homeless woman cleaned the debris tossed aside by a careless person paying $5.00 for a cup of coffee.
I picked up my coffee and turned to leave. I passed the two smirking women, resenting their privilege, resenting their beauty, feeling disappointment burn inside. Disappointment at myself.
Was I so different? Disappointment at them. It’s so easy to judge, especially from our oh-so-comfortable lives. I pushed the door open to head outside, calling a greeting to the woman as I did. I said it loudly enough for the ladies with the beautifully manicured nails to hear.
The woman outside looked up. She was someone’s daughter. Someone’s sister? Maybe someone’s mother. Our eyes met, and I smiled at her.
The change was amazing. A wide grin creased her face, transforming her angry, belligerent look into beauty. I stopped, struck.
I glanced at the McDonalds 20 yards away. “Have you had breakfast?”
Her smile broadened. “Oh, yes!” Her voice was sweet, childish, high-pitched. “I have bagels!”
What a beautiful, grateful spirit. Shame flooded me.
I touched her on the arm as I passed, a fingertip on her sleeve. “Have a good day.”
“God bless you.” Her reply was fervent.
She called down God’s blessing on me for speaking to her, for recognizing her as a fellow human being. For seeing her.
Jesus taught us to do this. He led by example, repeatedly. He spoke to the lame man waiting by the pool of Bethesda. He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. He spoke to the tax collector, to the leper, to the demon-possessed men in Gadarenes.
Today I learned—again—I want to live my life like Jesus. Help me, God, to see this world and Your people through Your eyes, not mine. Help me to always ask, “What would Jesus do?”
By author Paula Peckham
paulapeckham.com
Her debut novel, Protected, comes out March, 2022.
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Amen!! Giving a smile is life-affirming!! 🙂
Wonderful story! It brought tears to my eyes. May I remember to see the humanity in those I pass. Thank you for the reminder of the good that something as simple as a smile can do.
Amen!! Lord, please help us put into practice what You’re teaching us! 🙂
What a beautiful story. Jesus’s examples of love and ministering to others are set before us if we can only remember applications when we’re out and about in the world.
Hi Teresa, it is scary to think that our faces mirror our thoughts, for good or for bad. So many lessons in Paula’s blog – excellent!! And thanks for stopping by!!! 🙂
Wonderful story of how we never know someone’s full story unless we reach out and acknowledge. As I read about her I thought about her expression might be from watching the “privalaged” people go in, buy an expensive coffee, litter after it is used up and being rude to others not like themselves. Many times, I have been told that I am frowning and never realized my thoughts were plastered all over my face or body language. That expression on my face may have matched my mind in that moment but not my heart. Once you acknowledged her and spoke you got to see her heart shine through.
Amen!!! So so thankful for God’s goodness and mercy to us, and for His continued patience and teaching!!! 🙂
Thanks so much, Patti!!! Blessings and love to you too!!!! 🙂
This was such a moving story. Even though I am familiar with it, it touches me every time I read it! Blessings to both of you, eMarie and Paula!
So touching and what a teachable moment for all of us!
Hi Nina. Paula penned this perfectly – definitely touched my heart!! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed this, Cathy. Thanks for stopping by!! 🙂
Your words hit home.
Beautifully written beautiful sentiments.??
Thank you, Kathy! I agree! Lord open our eyes to others around us. 🙂
Beautiful story.:)
Amen!!! I’m right there with you!! 🙂
Open my eyes, Lord.