It’s a Tuesday morning, I was running my errands. My husband birthday was soon approaching so I went out shopping for his gifts. As soon as I enter the shopping centre just about to pass by the food court a young man greeted me, “good morning mam, could you buy me something to eat, please?” He said, “I am so hungry and I would really like a Subway sandwich.” Without hesitation my reply was, “yes sweetheart, whatever you want.” He had to be no more than thirty years old around the same age as my youngest child. His hair all knotted and stringy like he haven’t had a bath in a long time, his hands were dirty that his finger nails was long and dark with dirt, dirty clothing. Even though he wore a mask, there was something about his eyes, the look in his eyes the sincerity of his plea, I felt it deep within my spirit. I heard a voice in my head said, “ask and you shall receive.” He had a big gash over his nose as I stared intensely at him. I’ve always pray the Lord grant me the spirit of truth and discernment because I am so easily trusting. But with the most respectable, humility and childlike attitude all he kept on saying is “thank you mam, thanks so much.” I looked to the server at the counter and said, “please anything he wants no matter the cost give it to him.” And when the server asked him if he wanted his bread toasted he said, “no thanks I am too hungry to wait.” As I looked at him once again and asked, “is there anything else you want before I pay, take whatever else. He said,” this is so much already, thank you very very much. The server said to him, “you can have a combo if you want? And he looked at me like a child and said, “ is it ok.” My heart melted, as I persistently told him, “take whatever, as I told you before!” He was so excited, he started clapping his hands. I proceeded to paid for everything and before I left I said to him, may the Lord continue to bless him and I walked away. It all took no more than five minutes of my time as I was in a hurry to make back home before my husband.

I thought to myself as I continued on my way, how long must this young man been there, just begging anyone that passed by to by hims something to eat. And then I thought about my child and grand children and couldn’t help, but pray to the Lord that they never have to go through whatever brought him to that point in his life and even if they do, pray the Lord to remember me and do allow someone to do for them what I’ve just done for this young man. I could never say never to it happening to me, my children or grandchildren. Just imagine what it’s like being homeless and on the streets or even begging for food. We could never know with this life we’re living today, especially if it’s His Will for whatever reason for us to go through that kind of living. I thought about the people in Ukraine right now who left there families, home and all their belongs and my heart aches for them. Imagine just no more than five months ago their entire life they were living a dream and now it’s nothing but a nightmare with this war.

I also thought to myself, I was glad the young man asked instead of turning to some sort of criminal act. He could of grabbed my purse and ran off with it, hold up the store at gun point. The Bible says, “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open to you,” Matthew 7:7. For all those who turn up their noses to beggars and the homeless remember it could be you in that position or your loved ones. Even though there are some homeless and beggars who uses every dime you give them for drugs and alcohol, pray to the Lord for discernment to know who they are when approached. It’s not hard to give especially if some ask for you to buy them something to eat instead of money, you don’t need discernment for that.

This is not the first time I’ve experienced this kind of thing. At first it was easy for me to just give them money and walk away until one day my husband pointed out to me that there are scammers, drug and alcohol abuser in the mist so be careful. So I pray for discernment and stop being so naive. To allow God to use me for His glory and purpose.

It is truly a wonderful feeling when you’re blessed to be a blessing! There’s an awakening of joy, peace, love and fulfillment of something within my spirit I can’t even beginning to describe. Like I am walking on air, just floating. Thank you Jesus!