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On A Personal Note

Better Than We imagine

This past week, Rev. Dave Davis shared a tale of from a local shelter which offered, among other things, clothes to those in need.  It was a bustling, busy day. A young lady was helping folks sort though coats of the right sizes that would fit their family’s members.  Meanwhile, down the stairs came a man carrying in bags full of new donations from area churches.  Then, one elder gentleman, in dilapidated foot coverings that could scarcely be called sandals, came up to our young volunteer and asked if they had any shoes in a man’s size 10.  Rummaging around through the shelves, she reported back to the gentleman, “I am so sorry, but all the shoes we have are only for ladies.”   At this point, the man toting all the fresh donations broke in, saying, “Oh, wait a moment.  That was size 10?  I think we have one more sack with men’s stuff in the truck.  Let me go check.”  And sure enough, the man returned with a sturdy-looking pair that would fit and last well through the upcoming winter. Our young lady was thinking to herself how fortunate things turned out…until she spotted that man who had brought the donations going back up the stairs in his stocking feet.

Later that day, Lorraine and I sat sipping coffee and pondering this marvelous act of generosity.  “You know,” my wife said, “I can think of several of our friends who would have instinctively answered that need in exactly the same way.”  We thought and began ticking off their names.  (I also came up with the two associates who probably would have stolen the elder gentleman’s socks.) But we were surprised and gratified that, yes, at least 10 friends of ours would almost certainly have made that gift.  And, if you’re as fortunate as we, I’ll bet five cents of my own money that you can name several such generous friends yourself.  There’s more compassion out there than we tend to realize.

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