Daily Guideposts - 20 Day SampleExemplo

A Friend in Need

I was sitting outside on a bench near the office, having a sandwich, when a scruffy fellow with a backpack came up to me, asking for change. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t give you anything.” The usual reasons flashed through my head: I don’t know what he’s going to do with the money, probably spend it on drugs. I don’t want to encourage that. How can I trust him?

But then I thought of all the biblical exhortations to give no matter who asks. What did I know of this guy’s situation? Why couldn’t I help? I started to get a little more worried about me. Why couldn’t I be more generous in my thoughts? Why go through life so suspicious? Next time, I promised, I’ll do better. Be careful of such promises. No sooner had I got up from my bench than I saw the guy again, now standing outside a deli, staring at the food inside. “Can I buy you something to eat?” I offered.

“Sure,” he said. He picked up a bag of chips and a Coke.

Suddenly I felt like his mom. “You should also have something more nutritious than that,” I said. I put a banana in his hands. He took the items to the counter and I paid for them.

“Do you know anybody who’s hiring around here?” he asked.

“No,” I said.

“Do you know a place where I could stay?”

“A church a couple of blocks away has a shelter. They also offer counseling. You might talk to them.” I gave him the address and we parted ways.I haven’t seen him since, but there are others like him all over town. When I do something for any of them, I do something for me. God, give me a generous heart.

—Rick Hamlin