Practicing What I Preach

I am constantly spurting at the mouth; encouraging others to help themselves, to be less judgmental and more understanding and to take positive action instead of sitting on the sidelines when we see an opportunity to help someone out. This past weekend I had the chance to practice what I am always preaching and to put the countless advices that I am giving into action of my own, and let me tell you...it feels damn good. I was asked if I could spare a warm bed for a night for a man who was trying very hard to right some of the wrongs he had made in his life. I will freely admit that I was hesitant to have a complete stranger with such complications come into my home with my family but I did not let those fears outweigh the importance of doing the right thing, which in this case was providing a safe place to sleep for the night. I will never, I don't think, forget the look on his face and the waves of energy that were radiating off of him as he stood and watched my daughter and son in law make up the futon for him. His face revealed his humiliation that a man his age would need to ask this of a friend's parents, but at the same time you could see the utter gratitude he had. His emotions swamped me with such sadness, fear and struggle, yet again that quiet gratitude poured out of him. He was counting his blessings and although it was shaming him to have to count such a thing, he did not discount it. It was important to him to recognize and be thankful. Yesterday I fed him and provided the opportunity for him to take a hot shower. Once again, that gratitude overflowed and was almost tangible. It humbled me to be in the presence of someone who most would have turned away because of his troubled past and current challenges, but that was teaching me, just by his quiet appreciation, how to truly be grateful for the blessings I do have. We enjoyed a lot of conversation, my husband and him talking at great lengths about their interests and what they hoped for in the future. Our guest has been a sort of angel to us I suppose, coming into our lives to remind us of our blessings and the importance of giving to others without an expectation of getting anything in return.  I must confess though that I do feel as if I have been gifted. I have  extended my offer to let him stay until he could move into his apartment on the 15th of this month not because I felt obligated to do so but because I WANTED to do so. I was being presented with the opportunity to help change someone's life, even if it was in the most subtle of ways, and I knew that my decision to do so was truly appreciated by him, which made it that much more meaningful on both sides. Maybe this is a small thing for me, to let someone sleep on my futon, eat at my table and take a hot shower but for him....for him it is massive and something he counts as a blessing. So once again, I ask you all to look for the little ways you can help each other out. They may not always seem like life changing moments for you, but perhaps they are little miracles to the person on the receiving end.

Namaste...be blessed.