Hebrews 13:2, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it..."
Tonight, Christmas came a little early for me. I am home with my parents through the Holidays. :) So they invited me to go with them to the adult Christmas party at Lakeview UMC. I feel old going to an "adult" dinner. HA.
But anyways, we were getting ready to walk in the doors at church and I look over to my right and there sat a homeless man. I couldn't help but just stand there, kinda shocked to see him to be honest. The doors were locked to the church, because we were a bit early.
Of course, my first thought was so judgmental. What we HE doing there? WHY was he there? Was he going to hurt us? I didn't give him the benefit of the doubt..
My dad began to talk to the homeless man, whose name was George. George had been traveling from Centerpoint and trying to get to his brother in Gainesville. He had been on the streets since Friday.
He told my dad that he was extremely tired and hungry. He had been sleeping under the interstates and on the side of the road for the past few days. With hardly anything to eat.
My dad invited him in and to sit and have dinner with us.
My dad asked him if he would like him to take him to the Greyhound Bus station and buy him a ticket to Gainesville. I wasn't really surprised because my Dad would give the shirt off his back to anyone.
But, I couldn't help but think of how odd it was that George was there. I couldn't help but think it was a test from God to see how we, as a Church, would react to him. My amazing father didn't miss a beat. He didn't think twice about it. George took Dad up on the offer and off they went.
Still in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but freak out that my Dad was in the car ALONE with a strange man we had never met. I kept looking at my watch and thinking to myself, what if he tries to hurt my Dad.
About an hour or so later, my Dad came back in. I was very relieved to see him. I asked him a lot of questions on the way home. The first being, "WERE YOU NERVOUS AT ALL?" And Dad replied, "No, not at all." He just kept saying, he couldn't let him get back on his bike and ride and ride. He probably would have never made it there.
I have to thank my Dad over and over again for what I saw tonight. Dad didn't hesitate for a second. He didn't think twice.
Here, I have been so concerned about Christmas gifts, and my own petty problems. And then there is George. Who was living on the side of the road. Hungry, cold, and alone. It definitely reminds me to COUNT my BLESSINGS on a daily basis.
So, thank you, Daddy for being such an example of Christ tonight. What you did tonight, will forever be in my heart. I love you...
Blessings and Peace,