Yesterday a young woman came up to me during the homeless meal and handed me a card. It was a hand written thank you note for all we have done for her and her boyfriend. She has been coming to our meals for almost two years now. Her street name is Sunshine. I had to kick her out once, a while back for going off on another lady during Gonzaga’s Thursday night meal and almost getting into a brawl. She came back the next week apologizing for her mouth and behavior and she’s been cool since. A lot of these people need more than a second chance.
“I just can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me” she gushed.
“What do you mean?” I responded since I couldn’t really remember doing anything particularly grand for her.
“Last winter, me and my boyfriend got into our own apartment for the first time in a long time – you gave us those sheets of plastic?” she answered in a tone trying to helpfully remind me how I had been such a crucial part of her year. We keep rolls of painter’s plastic on hand so that whenever it rains, guys and ladies camping out can cut off a good ten or twelve foot section and cover their camp spot or lay it on the ground to keep them dry. Sunshine and her boyfriend were given several yards of plastic last winter after they had moved into their apartment.
“We used that plastic to cover our windows and our heat bill dropped from $145 a month to $80 a month” She excitedly said, adding with a sigh of relief, “That was the difference between us being able to eat or pay the phone bill or sometimes getting a bus pass each month. It literally saved us. We were so broke before that, we fell behind in rent and thank God the landlord was kind to us and let us stay anyway. With that extra amount we could get caught up and back on our feet.”
“I thought your housing was subsidized?” I responded, “Doesn’t that kind of guarantee your being able to stay?”
“Not really. You see, I have to support my three kids and my boyfriend has one child to support with his check.”
I had never seen them with children so I asked, “Where are your kids?”
“They’re in the foster care system and one is with my mom. Most of our government paychecks have child support taken out so there really isn’t near as much to live on for us” she explained. “I don’t mind though, I’m glad I can help them. Without your meals every Sunday and Gonzaga’s every Thursday night, along with the dog food you give us each week, we wouldn’t have made it.” Leaning in close she added, “You know I used to be a hardcore meth addict and heroin user. I’ve been clean for almost 11 years now. Without you guys helping us, I know I would’ve gone back to using again because I couldn’t take the stress anymore. I almost didn’t make it as it was – but I did! Thank you so much!”
She then told me how she had been praying to God more than ever before in her whole life and she felt like He wanted her to start giving back somehow. At the homeless shelter, House of Charity, a block away from our church there is a Hispanic man who is a janitor. She said she always sees him with a smile on his face and a positive attitude, even when he is cleaning up feces that were spread all over sinks and mirrors by some psycho nut job at the shelter. He always smiles and stay’s positive. She was thinking about giving back when she saw him one day leaving a church service somewhere. He had his seven kids in tow. Sunshine felt God say to her – “NOW, HIM!” So she gave him $50 bucks she had saved up. That was a ton of money to her. She was beaming at me when she told me how she felt giving it away because God told her to.
“It felt great” she exclaimed!
Her card had a hand drawn picture on the inside of a sun peaking over the horizon with a smiley face drawn on it and rays of light shooting off into the heavens. The note read; “Thanks. Can’t express our thankfulness for the support you’ve shown us. Knowing you guys is a great blessing. It was the good of others not giving up on us that gave us the strength we so need. Thank you for setting a good example, for that is the true teachings of God”!
I couldn’t help but think of, Mark 12:41-44 “Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
“Painter’s plastic and dog food saved her life and kept her off drugs”, I thought. WOW! Who would’ve guessed?! Sometimes it’s the small things. Every one of you who helps us, shares in this accomplishment! Her note is for you.
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