Freedom

Freedom. As Americans, we had the opportunity to celebrate our nation's birthday and give tribute to our service men and women who have gone before and are currently sacrificing for our safety, for our freedom. Freedom comes at a great price - and we are thankful for all who have served and continue to serve our country. We have freedom in Jesus - we have been set free from the bondage of sin - the price was paid on the cross for all our sins. Thank you, Jesus for setting us free!

Our 4th of July celebration was not what we had planned nor expected. We started out the day as normal - we get our 5:30am wake-up call from a little voice, calling out "Mommy". One eye open, I look at the clock. How I wish you could teach a child how to tell time at age 2. I close my eye..."Mommy!" and then "MOMMY" and finally the one that kicks me out of bed..."MOMMY!!!!!" OK, I'm up! I walk across the hall to see standing there in his crib, this precious little face - big brown eyes looking at me - a big wide smile across the face! I get to his crib and he says while jumping up and down and doing what we call the "butt buster"...."Daddy!!!!" and points towards our bedroom. He is All. About. Daddy. I am so excited about this - it's awesome he wants to spend all his time with daddy...I knew the day would come when dad became cooler than mom...and that's alright. It means he's growing up and is without a doubt totally attached to us.

Since the 4th is a Sunday, we do our usual Sunday morning routine and head to church. Before church started I had a chance to chit chat with some friends, and was introduced to a nice man when he came up to speak to my friend and give her a hug. This man appeared to perhaps be struggling a bit - later to find out he is a homeless man. Now homeless people at our church is not uncommon. We have ministered to many and welcome them. I had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with William as he opened the door for me - a nice man trying to get work with the oil clean up. I headed into church and met Will inside (he was doing the nursery drop off today).

After church we are chatting with friends and doing the whole - what are your plans for today? Our plan was to celebrate the 4th at home in the afternoon, grill hamburgers and hot dogs, homemade mac and cheese and then head out to watch fireworks. We are walking out towards the car and I see a man sitting on one of the benches in the courtyard area. I didn't spend any time looking at him or his situation, so I didn't notice the sleeping bag and bags of belongings. Will evidently had and while I was talking with someone else, he had gone to ask the youth minister if he knew anything about this man. The minister said yes, he's staying there. Will said, "there?" Yes, there - under that tree, in the church courtyard. We said our good-byes to friends, wished them a happy 4th and went on our way, discussing what we'd have for lunch, the what we'd plan to do later. First things first after we get home....lunch and then a nap. For all of us.

Peaceful naps...everyone is sound asleep...as I lay down, I begin to pray...asking God for renewed strength, to continue to use us every day to His glory. Will and I have really been trying to live each and every day for Him - escaping the kingdom of me and working and living for the Kingdom of God. I drift off to sleep....

After an hour, I wake right up - sit straight up and the only thing in my mind and in my heart is a scripture verse. I know this verse...I know what it says. I feel very sad and disappointed. I grab my Bible and go downstairs to Will. Tears welling in my eyes.

I sat down on the couch - didn't say a word - just opened my Bible and began reading the verse to him. It's this verse "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."  Matthew 25: 34-40

Tears running down my cheeks and I told Will that God gave me an opportunity today to feed someone, or give him clothing, or give him something to drink. I failed. I failed in a big way. I chose to walk away from Jesus sitting there under that tree with his sleeping bag and not utter a word. I have not departed the kingdom of me...and I failed my Jesus.

Will looked at me holding my hands and said, "WE failed, honey. I felt the stir in my heart and all I did was ask someone else about him." He then said what can we do? I said, the two men are still staying at the church - we missed the opportunity this morning, let's not miss it again and do nothing. We know they are trying to get some place, get a local job - they need clean clothing. I told Will I am happy to take their laundry and bring it home to wash, dry and fold for them - and they might need a decent shirt and pants to interview for a job. Will went upstairs to his closet and took out some gently used clothing and put it in the car. Food and drink - we can bring food and water or whatever...Will suggests we just go to the church and talk to the two men and find out their needs then we can go to WalMart and get what they need.

After prayer, we load up Ethan and got in the car and drive to church. It's pouring rain - it's 4:30pm and we get to church to see one of the men sleeping on a bench right outside the sanctuary doors - their little bit of belongings in grocery sacks sitting near the chapel door out of the rain. Will approaches the man and he's sound asleep - a deep, deep sleep. He hadn't heard us or Ethan's chatter as we approached him. Will isn't sure what to do - he doesn't want to wake him...so we pray aloud softly, Lord, here we are. We don't know what to do next, but please guide us (this is our first experience waking a sleeping man we don't know). Time goes by, I am entertaining Ethan while Will tries to wake him...after several attempts and a little poking, Will wakes him up.

I wish I could tell you more of what took place as far as conversation - but it's in Will's head and he said that he would relay it as it came back to him. He did tell the man that we saw him this morning and we want to help him if we can. Will asks what he needs - food? Water? Cooler? Jessie is the man's name and he replies thanks but I don't need anything.  Will engages a little more and asks where he came from, is he looking for work, etc... after a while, Will comes back to us and we go over to WalMart to pick up a few things.

We get a flashlight, a rolling duffel bag that can keep his things, clothes and sleeping bag dry and then we are checking out and also get a gift card which we hope and pray will be used for food, toiletries, etc... As we check out, the cashier asks us what type of gift card do we want - a birthday, gas, wedding, etc...we said no, just something plain unless you have one that says Jesus loves you. She smiled...she said is this for a child? No for a man. I ask if we can restrict the card from buying alcohol. No she said - I wish we could! Then she stared to see...she started to put it together...so we engage in a little bit of conversation and she tells us about a couple of homeless men who are working the churches, going between the two...staying awhile, etc...said that some men have been drinking out in front of the store..etc...she described the men, sounded familiar. She says as we leave, God bless you guys - for helping the needy. I pray it is used wisely.

We get back to the car and talk - we both have a sick feeling in our stomach. I said to Will, you know, God just told us to go to the homeless men...He didn't tell us to get them gift cards. Maybe God was speaking to us through the cashier. So we decide to sit on the card, and deliver the duffel and flashlight and pray about the money. We hold onto the second duffel and flashlight to give to William when we see him.

We get back to the church and Jessie is sitting on the ground out of the rain near the chapel where his things are. Will takes him what we got, and he is very thankful. He thanks Will over and over. They talk, Will learns a little more about him and his situation. Will offers to drive him where he needs to go in town, but the man says no - he will be ok. Will prays with Jessie before he leaves. Will comes back to the car, wiping tears from his eyes. He gets in, and says, thank you for coming downstairs earlier and telling me what you were feeling and getting us to come do this. He said he'd tell me what was said as it came to him. He felt the need to just be still.

And so we drove home - in silence, both of us praying quietly. By the time we got home it was late and most people were at their 4th of July fireworks watching destination. We celebrated at home, quietly, thanking and praising God for the freedoms we have. The freedom to be poor and needy. The freedom to help, even in a small way, the poor and the needy. We asked God to use us each and every day to bring Him glory and praise.

Monday Will got up early to meet some friends for golf. After he got home, he told me about his morning. He said he was  thinking about Jessie and William. He said he stopped at McDonald's and bought two big breakfasts and 2 cups of coffee and took it to them on his way to the golf course. He said, at least I know they are getting a hot meal this morning...the most important meal of the day. He said he told Jessie he was thinking about him...and wanted him to know Jesus loves him and we care about him.

Jessie was thankful. He was very thankful. I pray that people will remember Matthew 25 when they see someone poor, needy, homeless, abandoned, orphaned...that's where you will find Jesus.