~:Disclaimer:~
This story is completely true. The events are all exactly as they were
told to me by my grandmother.
Louise sat down next to her granddaughter. She smiled as she looked at this
younger version of herself. Her granddaughter was almost 15 years old now, but to
Louise she was still the young, spunky child that she had babysat when the girl was 5.
Krista looked up at her grandmother, whom she called �Memaw�. The woman
had lived 53 years on this world and gained much wisdom and stories along the way.
This person had always loved her for who she was, this older version of herself was a true
friend in all respects.
Krista smiled at Louise. �Hey Memaw, how about tellin me a story?�
Louise smiled. �You want to hear a story?� Krista nodded. �All right,� Louise
continued. �Since its about Christmas I�ve got a story that would be perfect.� She looked
Krista seriously square in the eye. �Now this story is completely true. I want you to
remember that.� Krista nodded once again. Louise cleared her throat quietly and began
her tale. As she spoke her eyes turned distant as she recalled past events.
�It was about 3 or 4 years ago. Your uncle Donald and I had driven to Taco Johns
to get some something to eat. Now as you know their are railroad tracks that run right
next to Taco Johns. Now when we drove into the parking lot we parked and sat in the car
deciding what we wanted to eat. As I was sitting there I looked at the tracks, which back
then their was a fence that almost totally blocked your view. But threw the cracks I could
see a middle aged man sitting on the tracks. Now Krista it was drizzling rain and it was
so cold that day. As I stared at that man I quietly took a twenty dollar bill out of my
pocket. I turned to Donald.
�Donald. Go give that man on the tracks this $20.� I said to him.
Donald looked at me like I was crazy, but did as I asked him and walked around
the fence to give the man the money.
Donald returned to the car and we went through the drive-thru and got our food.
We then parked out in the parking lot and sat in the car eating. Now Krista, I looked over
at the dumpster and saw another homeless man digging in it for food.� Louise made a
digging motion with her arms, for she always talked with her hands whirling about.
�He was in his late 20�s or early 30�s. Again I dug in my purse and pulled out
another twenty dollar bill. Now understand money was tight at this time and I needed
that 20...just as I had the one I gave away before it. But I just couldn�t stand seeing a
young man digging through the trash for food in the cold rain. I turned to Donald again
and gave him the 20 dollar bill.
�Donald, go give this to that young man.� I said to him.
Now he thought I had totally flipped my rocker. He asked me what he should tell
the man.
�Tell him Merry Christmas� I said.
I�ll never forget the look on that man�s face when Donald handed him that twenty
dollars. He looked like he had just seen a miracle. He stood there staring at the $20 as if
he just couldn�t believe it.
When Donald got back in the car he couldn�t stop telling me about what all the
man had said.
�Oh Mama, he just kept thanking me and thanking me.� he said.
As we pulled away from the restaurant the young man waved at us weakly, as if
he was in total shock. I turned to Donald, my face just as serious as it is now.
And I said, �Donald, now I don�t know and probably will never see those two men
again but at least I know that today they won�t be hungry.�
Krista smiled. �Now that was a good story.�
Louise smiled too. �But remember, it was a true story. And ya wanna know
what?�
�What?�
�After I gave those men that money, all kinds of good things happened to me.�
Krista nodded and became serious. �So thats why your always giving stuff?�
Louise nodded and wrapped Krista in a hug. �Well....at least something I say
doesn�t go in one ear and out the other!�
They both laughed.
Psalms 40:1
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
Acts 20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.