This is a picture of our dog, Zoey, seven years ago when we first saw her at a pet store. She was the only dog there, and she was a rescue. As my husband and my young daughter, who was six at the time, stood beside me, we listened to how she and her brother were found in a ditch on the side of the road a few weeks previously. Her brother had been adopted the day before, and now here she was so sad, lonely, and forlorn. She wouldn't even look at us through her glass display. I couldn't imagine how anyone with a heart could leave her there, and so, we didn't.
We are very thankful for her. She is a sweet girl, has much more energy now, and we've decided she must have PTSD from some stressful event she experienced as a puppy. Whenever a hot air balloon flies over our house, she becomes Houdini and escapes out of our fenced-in backyard. We tried to escape-proof the yard, but she still gets out. We still haven't figured out how she does it. Fortunately, we've been able to get her back each time. She has brought us much joy.
After I adopted a third puppy, my husband wouldn't let me go near any kind of farm with puppies or pet shop or dog breeder anymore. I guess I can't blame him. Those puppy eyes get me every time. I have to admit, I'm not even a dog person, or, well, I wasn't, and I'm still tempted to bring home another one.
During this time of the year, it's a good time to pause and be thankful for all that we are blessed with. I'm thankful for my family, friends, health, home, job, food, ability to have fun (social events), freedom, that I live in the U.S.A., and that I can worship God freely. I'm thankful for God's great love for me.
Just like sad, lonely puppies who need love, warmth, shelter, food, and someone to care for them, there are a lot of people in our world who don't have these basic things that we take for granted. Yesterday, I was reminded of just how blessed I am to not have to think about my next meal. My daughter and I have started an after-school drive-thru Starbuck's thing. We get our favorite drink and listen to Taylor Swift as we drive home. It's our bonding time. Yesterday, I had some extra time before I had to pick her up, so I went to Starbucks first and ordered our drinks through the drive-thru. As I rounded the corner after paying for the drinks, a teenage boy about the age of 15 stood in the parking lot and hesitantly started to flag me down to stop for a minute. He was in jeans and a hoodie sweatshirt and boots and had his hood pulled up over his head. He didn't look menacing, but my first reaction was one of fear and uncertainty. What does he want? Is he going to hurt me? What if I stop?
I actually passed him because of my uncertainty. As I passed him, he made no move toward me and in my rearview mirror, I saw his head drop down as tears streamed down his face. I stopped. I feel certain that God tugged at my heart in that moment and told me to help him. I rolled my window down and motioned for him to come to the car. He approached hesitantly. I looked at his face. His nose was running and there were two streams of tears rolling down his cheeks. My heart ached for him. In my motherly voice, I asked, "How can I help you, babes?" For context, I always use a term of endearment for all kids, "babes, dear, sweet girl, sweet boy, etc." He seemed embarrassed and wouldn't look up at me, but he answered, "Do you have a couple dollars I could have?" I replied, "Sure." Then I asked, "What's wrong?" He replied, "I'm hungry." I was stunned and felt heartache for him. People in our neighborhoods, kids, really do go hungry.
I happily handed him some money, and I told him that God hasn't forgotten about him. I just wasn't sure what else to say. He thanked me and walked directly to the pizza joint that was across the parking lot we were in. I was still reeling with a little fear from stopping to talk to him. This kind of thing just doesn't happen to me. I went home last night and couldn't stop thinking about him. I wondered, How long had it been since he'd eaten? Is he homeless? Did he sleep outside last night--it rained and it was cold? Where are his parents? The one question still plaguing me now is: Should I have done more?
Maybe yes and maybe no. I do believe that God presents us with opportunities to be His hands and feet in this world. If I had been Jesus, I would have walked up to this boy and met his needs and made sure he knew he was loved for who he was. It can be scary in this world to do good things for others sometimes. Evil lurks around us, and sometimes our good deeds are rewarded with people turning on us.
What I have learned from this is that I will continually pray for God to show me how to help people. I ask him daily to present me with people who need my help and need to be reminded of His love for them. I tell God that I trust Him to keep me safe in my endeavors to care for others because there are SO MANY people out there who need our help, even if it's just a little money for food, or a little food, or help finding shelter, or an invitation to church, or just a reminder that God hasn't forgotten them.
I'm going to keep my eye out for that young man over by Starbucks from now on. If I see him again, I'm going to ask more questions and see how I can help him more. This Thanksgiving, give thanks for the basic things you have because they really are BIG things. If you can send a turkey or a ham or a turkey dinner to a family that needs help, do it. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones!
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