"Many Christians estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt. All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence with them."
Hudson Taylor

I set my two milk jugs down and waited in line at Safeway. It was a Sunday evening, and Mom sent me to the store for milk, since we were on our last gallon. A short lady, probably in her twenties, stood in line in front of me with a few items. She turned around and looked at me, smiling softly and mumbling something which I didn't understand.

It was soon her turn to pay and as she opened her check book she told the cashier lady, "Why don't you ring her milk up with my stuff."
My mouth probably hung open for a few minutes, until I finally found words. "You don't have to do that," I said.
"I know. I just want to bless a stranger."
"Wow, thank you."

Her simple act of kindness left me speechless. I wondered if it was the love of Jesus that compelled her to love others in this way. I felt overwhelmed at her generosity, but also somewhat guilty. Shouldn't I have been the one doing that?

I walked to the car still amazed at this woman. Thanking God for the tender heart He gave her, tears filled my eyes. Sadly, you just don't see that kind of selfless giving very often these days.

I wonder what kind of impact Christians could make in the world, if each one of us took advantage of all the little ways to show Christ's love to others. It could be paying for someone's milk at the grocery store, buying a Starbucks drink for the homeless man sitting out in the cold, or handing out candy to kids playing at the park. What we do doesn't matter...as long as we do something.

I want to love like that. Who's with me?

We walked up to the door of the downtown mission, and homeless men and women crowded the sidewalk. I looked down at one man sitting on his mat, leaning against the brick wall. With a smile I said, "Hi." He looked surprised to hear me greet him but smiled and nodded back.

This summer I read a book called, "Under The Overpass." The book describes life as a homeless person, and one thing the author says is that even just a "hello" makes all the difference for a man or woman on the streets. So often people walk past them without even looking in their direction. Taking one moment to acknowledge their presence and make eye contact with them, turns their lonely world upside down. They are loved. They are important. They are human.

That inspired my goal for the evening at the mission. In the past it had been to speak Spanish or intentionally smile. But this time, it was simply to make much of these people.

We served dinner that night, and I walked up to one table, asking if there was anything they needed me to get for them. A little lady with short dark hair told me "thank you" for the food and that they were doing fine. And just as I turned to leave, I remembered my goal for the night. I was walking away from the perfect opportunity to make much of this little lady.

I quickly stepped back to face her again and asked her name. She had just taken a bite of her food, but quietly replied, "Dawn." Then as I introduced myself, she stood up and came over to me. Before I knew what she was doing, she had her arms wrapped tightly around me. This was far from what I was prepared for. She didn't smell clean. She probably hadn't had a shower in weeks. But, despite how comfort zone stretching it was for me, that hug probably meant the world to her. And it probably was the means that God had intended for me to love her. Only He knows the last time she was hugged.

My idea of making much of her was simply asking her her name, but God taught me that sometimes it's doing what you're not prepared to do - doing what's uncomfortable for you. For me, that was hugging a homeless woman.

On his way to school, our friend Elijah encountered a panhandler on the street corner. This is his account of that day...

I take the Glisan exit, thinking to myself "Good, I won't be late." As I come to the light, it turns green and I proceed to make the left turn towards Multnomah. As I do so, from the corner of my eye, a bum, whispers to himself something to each car, to each driver. This is not the first incidence with this specific man. Three, out of the last four days he's been standing there. And each time, it looks like he's talking to himself. But this time was different. This time, the Lord opened my eyes to see what he was saying. As I drove closer, I realized he was saying "God bless you." You may scoff and say "Oh he's just saying that because he wants money," or this entire situation may have not meant a thing to you.

But who has the love or compassion to say to everyone who passes by you, "God bless you," even when those people don't wave, don't smile, don't say hi, don't look at you, that curse you, that taunt you, and even may spit on you?

This man does.

And it sure reminds me of another Man who went through the same thing, yet still loves and has compassion for those that hate and scorn Him.

I pulled into the Multnomah lot and sat in the car for awhile. I was able to hold back the tears, but inside, my heart was breaking. And for a week now, it has been breaking for many lives, for many situations, for many souls. I went to class and chapel with that on my mind but I couldn't get the image out. I just couldn't.

I wish that I could say I went back and talked to that man. Hopefully I'll remember to do that the next time I drive by.

Matthew 25:40 "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.'"

1 John 3:16 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."