“He gave All He Had.”
This is our first Tuesday Transformation post and we are so excited about it. Occasionally, we will post a Tuesday Transformation post as just a little feel good, inspirational, heart lifting message.
This week, I want to share a personal story. It’s a story about a man who changed my outlook on life, and I don’t even know his name.
Years ago, when I was in high school, a few of my friends from choir and myself (yes, I was totally in choir. Haha,) decide to go into the city of our hometown to sing Christmas carols for our high school sub for Santa charity.
I’ll try to recollect how the night happened to my knowledge.
So, we make a huge sign explaining our cause, put out a large jar, and begin singing.
Certain parts of our City are very crowded during the holidays, people bustling through the freezing streets to shop and see the light displays we have.
We choose a very busy corner and the crowds do not disappoint. Within no time at all, our jar is overfilled! There are dollar bills, ten dollar bills, twenty dollar bills and even a hundred if I remember correctly.
Our fingertips and noses are frozen but we don’t care. Our hearts are filled with love for our cause and gratitude for the people around us.
About half through the night, I notice a man sitting in a wheel chair across the street from us. I still remember the red and black plaid blanket draped across his knees and the hat hugging his face that almost completely hides it. He’s sitting very still next to a cardboard sign that reads, “Vet. Hungry. Please help. God Bless.”
Immediately my heart goes out to him and then I notice that, from the knee down, he doesn’t have any legs. My heart aches.
Again, we go back to singing and we sing until the crowds thin.
As we are packing up to go home, something life changing happens. This man, the one with the cardboard sign, wheels across the street to us and quietly hands us the only fifty cents he had.
We stand stunned and murmur a quiet thank you.
As we stand around with tears in our eyes, we quickly decide to give the man our jar full of money. But when we turn around to find him, he’s gone. We drive around the city trying to find him, but it’s no use. He’s no where to be found.
Sometimes I wonder if he’s an angel, sent to teach us something… that it doesn’t matter what you give and sometimes the smallest gift is worth so much more.
Regardless of if he was Heaven sent or an Angel on earth, I will always be grateful to this man.
I even wrote a song about him. Of course it’s a Christmas song.
Now, I’ll share it if you promise not to judge. Lol. This was back during my artist days… when I was trying to be an artist instead of a songwriter.
It’s funny, as my songwriting career progresses, I sometimes am ashamed of the songs I’ve written years ago, but not this one. It will always hold a special place in my heart.
Okay, so, my challenge to you is to look at what you can give, no matter how small, and see whose day you can brighten.
And pay attention to the small gifts around you… the messy drawings from your children or the smile from a stranger. Every gift matters, no matter how big and no matter how small! Here’s to Tuesday Transformation and a sweeter life!
