I'm not sure who even says that anymore... but apparently I do. Especially after today. And after last night.
Last night I stayed up late working on my list of Random Acts of Kindness that I want to do for my thirtieth birthday. I looked on the internet at what others have done, I looked on pinterest, and then I just sat here thinking about my life and those whom I could impact directly.
Unfortunately I am in a bit of a hard spot. In College Station I have friends who act as family and I know beyond a shaddow of a doubt that they would jump in the car with me in a second to ride around and live out my crazy dreams of blessing people in sneaky ways.
Here in New Braunfels it isn't that easy. I don't know that many people here and the ones that I do know, well I'm not sure that I want to introduce them to my crazy just yet... :)
So, last night, after everyone was asleep {we are living with my parents, remember??}, I dreamt up this list, and I decided to bite the bullet. I decided that I am going to invite pretty much everyone I've met in New Braunfels over to my Mom's house to make Blessed 2 Bless bags. We made them two years ago as a family, and I really wanted to do it last year but then everything got a bit too crazy to actually organize it all.
So this year- we are going for it! I am gathering email addresses from my Mom and contacting people on face book. I am going to beg and plead with them ask them over for a nice evening of stuffing ziplocks full of stuff for people who need it all the while drinking yummy coffee and eating way too much sugar. Hey, could be worse!
Part of me is saying that I shouldn't do this. It would be so much easier to just add another "little" random act of kindess to the list and put this much bigger idea out of my mind.
But then I was on the way home and I saw a guy standing on the corner by McDonalds. He wasn't very old-- maybe early twenties. He was dirty and holding a sign that said "Broke. Traveling. Hungry." He was staring straight at the ground. I couldn't help but think of a story that my Mom told me the other day about her friend's son going missing about this time last year. It turns out that he was living under a bridge in San Antonio- just because he made a few bad decisions and got involved in the wrong crowd. And suddenly I wasn't just looking at another homeless guy; I was looking at my Mom's friends' son; I was looking at my son.
I rolled down my window and waved around some money, and he shyly walked over to me. It was only then that I saw the huge black eye he wore. He smiled a genuine smile and thanked me with such kindness in his eyes. Then he walked back over to where his bag was on the ground, folded up his sign, gathered his things, and started walking towards McDonalds. As the light turned green and I rolled slowly by him he turned around once more and gave me the smile of a lifetime.
All of that for $5. And sure, there was a small part of me saying that I shouldn't give him money, that he would probably just go blow it on alcohol or cigarettes. And you know what? He might. But, the fact of the matter is that what he decides to do with that money is not my issue. I felt a tugging on my heart to give it to him and I answered. That is all I need to know.
So my prayer is tonight that he is warm with a full belly, and that whatever has lead him to this place will release him so he can be all that he is meant to be.
On the way home I heard a song that rang so true to all of the thoughts repeating through my mind.
"We are the saints
we are the children
we've been redeemed
we've been forgiven
we are the sons and daughters of God."
Redeemed and forgiven. Not only me but the guy on the street corner. How amazing that we share in that grace.
Then I got home and told my parents that I almost brought a guy home for dinner and Bible study with my Dad's baseball team and checked one of my favorite blogs that I haven't checked in a LONG time. And guess what it was about??
Ok God, I get it. I hear you loud and clear!
I am diving in. I am making coffee and baking desserts. I am inviting people I have spoken to once. Crazy? Probably!
Blessed to Bless bags next Sunday...