Be The Positive Inspiration You Would Like To See In The World ...
A stranger (or at least a man I assumed to be a stranger) came up to me the other day, he said, "Excuse me Ms. Bean. Can you spare some change?" I said, "Why?" He said, "Hummmm, nobody has ever asked me that before. What do you mean why?" I said, "I mean, why exactly are you asking me for money? Most people give an explanation in advance - You hadn't even attempted." He said, "Why?" I stood there for a moment before responding quite honestly confused. I then said, "Because you're asking me for my money and if its going toward something negative then I will not be a contributor to such." He stood there for a moment - not confused but somewhat amused. He then replied, "If I told you it was for me to feed my 7 kids and they were sitting in the car around this corner hungry, would you give it to me?" I said, "Maybe if that were true - Is it?" He chuckled and said, "Nope! Don't need the Lord to strike me down over no over-priced alcohol." I then chuckled with him. He then said, "So what shall it be Ms. Bean - your mother told me you were a tough cookie?" I held his eyes for a moment, then asked, "Why do you drink sir?" He said, "Don't you wanna know how I know you?" I responded, "Does it really matter?" He said, "I guess not," then in pausing he took a deep breathe and begun again. "I drink to escape life, to chase away the pain of lose and to forget the sins I've committed." I asked, "So what when the alcohol is gone? What then? You keep asking the next lucky passerbyer for change?" He began laughing while saying, "I thought twice about asking you because your dad told me about you and your empowerment speeches." I laughed. He continued, "So what, you here to judge me too?" I took his hand and held his gaze and said, "No. Mike (by this time I had figured out who he was). Who am I to judge another? I will give you exactly what you ask for and that's change - every dime, nickel, penny or quarter in my purse you shall have it but the only thing I ask is that instead of indulging in alcohol, why not indulge in GOD. He will forgive, cure your ales and make you whole again." By this time we both had begun to cry. I released his hands and opened my purse and bent down to begin collecting every piece of change I could find for him - I will always keep my word. He then bent down beside me and held my hands to stop. He pulled me up and said, "You've done enough. Thank you." As I watched him walked away, I simply thanked GOD for working through me!!!! Change does not always have to come in monetary value ...............
Courtesy Of: Nannette Bean via https://www.facebook.com/nannette.bean.1
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