TATTOOS III

"Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so..." - Swami Vivekananda

Continued:

"Go back and tell him to stay there, that we will be back in fifteen minutes," I told Nick. We hurried to the nearest store: bought our gifts carefully. "It can’t be too heavy," I explained. "He has to be able to carry it around." We settled on our purchases. We rushed back to the spot where we left him, and there he was, still waiting. And still, nobody else was stopping for him. With hands shaking, I grabbed our bags and climbed out of the car, all five of us, each carrying a gift. As we walked up to him, I feared, hoping he wasn’t a serial killer. I looked into his eyes and saw something that startled me: I'd misjudged him. He was fighting to hold back his tears. How long had it been since someone showed this man kindness? He stood there, like a child, and I felt like my small contributions were so inadequate. As he stood up, I looked directly into my eyes: there were so blue, so intense and mine filled with tears as he said, "Ma’am, I don’t know

TATTOOS II

"People who look down on other people don't end up being looked up to." - Robert Half

 Continued from yesterday:

This tattooed man was tired and worn-out - sweat trickling down his face. I reached into my purse for a ten-dollar bill. "Can I take it to him, Mom?" My son pleaded. "Be careful, honey." I warned handing him the money. I watched, as he rushed over to the man. With a smile, he handed it to him. The man was startled: he stood took the money, and put it in his pocket. "Good," I thought to myself, "now he will at least have a hot meal tonight." I felt satisfied, proud of myself. I'd made a sacrifice and now I could go on with my errands. When Nick got back into the car, he looked at me with sad, pleading eyes. I knew I had to do more

Many times, God brings us across needy people, in order to slow us down, from trying so hard to get all our needs met, to getting us meet other people's needs. We can't be kind to everyone,

TATTOOS

"People who look down on other people don't end up being looked up to." - Robert Half 

He was scary. His cardboard sign, his dog and tattoos running up and down his arms, and neck. His sign said he was, "stuck and hungry" and needed help. I always fall for anyone needing help. My husband both loves and hates this quality in me. It often makes him nervous: if he saw me right now, he’d be nervous but he wasn’t with me right now. I pulled my van over, and in my rear-view mirror, I reasoned this man: tattoos and all. He wore a bandanna, tied over his head. Anyone could see he was dirty. Nobody else was stopping for him. I could see the other drivers take one look and immediately focus on something else – anything else.

Mabinty Kanu said, "Never look down on anyone because of their present situation. Sometimes the people you look down