Angels Among Us

"I expect to pass through this life once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not return this way again."

-- William Penn***
A very poor, eight year old boy lived in the inner-city with his family. One cold, autumn day he stood peering in the window at the local store. Standing barefoot, a new pair of tennis shoes had caught his eye. A woman, who was passing by, asked the young boy, "Young man, what are you doing staring so intently into the window?" Shyly, he said, "I was just sort of praying and hoping that God would see to it that someday I might get a new pair of sneakers.”

Without hesitation, the woman took the young boy into the store and purchased the tennis shoes that the boy had been admiring. When she handed the shoes to the young boy, he could not believe it; he had a brand-new pair of tennis shoes. It was the first time in his life that he would not have to go barefoot or wear hand-me-down shoes. Nobody had ever been so kind to him. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he said, "Ma'am can I ask you a question?” “Certainly,” she responded. The young boy looked at her and asked, “Are you God's wife?"

POINT TO PONDER: Today, make it a point to do something nice for someone you do not know. Be kind to strangers by engaging in random acts of kindness; give a needy person a few spare dollars; feed an expiring parking meter; help a stranded motorist. Opportunities for random acts of kindness are all around us. However, when we get so caught up in our own world, we become be oblivious to the needs of others. Worse yet, sometimes we purposely turn a blind eye. When you take the time to step outside of yourself, you will see people in need all around you. Imagine how great this world would be if each one of us engaged in just one random act of kindness each day? No doubt, the world would be a better place. Remember, a random act of kindness helps two people: you and the person in need. Booker T. Washington tells us, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”

One never knows what good might become of helping a stranger in need. The Good Book reminds us, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing people have entertained angels without knowing it.” -- Hebrews 13:2. Remember, the next time you do something nice for a stranger, he/she just might be an angel. And, we all could use a few more angels among us.

Its your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
MJD