We pray for them day after day. Winter after winter.
On Christmas Eve our family decided our prayers weren't cutting it.
Armed with 5 gallons of steaming hot milk chocolate, a table and clothe, styrofoam cups and handmade blankets and scarves (thanks to grandma and grandpa) we set up camp on a questionable corner downtown.
memorable moments:
- the icy cold storm that met us there
- the men who said they would have taken us up on it if it had been coffee
- the gentleman who removed his hat to show us his freshly cut hair. He was so proud.
- the man who took the hot cocoa and discarded it in the middle of the street not 10 feet from us.
- the young man who moved to Utah for love and told a detailed story of how the girls father pull a rifle on him.
- the lady that leaned down low so our 8 year old could stand on her toes and wrap a bright pink scarf around her snowy neck.
- the woman who was teary with gratitude when we gave her a blanket. she asked us to help her tuck it safely in her bag.
- seeing that very blanket 30 minutes later covering a stroller with 3 children in it. the afore mentioned homeless woman had given the most generous gift of all.
We drove home in thoughtful silence
and as numb fingers and toes thawed into prickly pain
we found ourselves wondering . . .
who wouldn't love a little frozen lemonade
in the middle of July?
A new tradition is born.
2 comments:
What an amazing and humbling experience. I'm sure your kids will remember that for a very long time. Good job mom!
What an amazing lesson you taught your kiddos. Yes, there are ungrateful people, lazy people, crazy people...BUT, in the midst of those people are people who truly need and appreciate the help. Sometimes you have to meet and be rejected by the others to find the one who truly needs the help. One person makes it all worth it!
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