.
I know it's a long story but worth a read.
“Good morning,” said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground. The
man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things
of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her
life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others
had done before. “Leave me alone,” he growled...To his amazement, the woman
continued standing. She was smiling, her even white teeth displayed in dazzling
rows. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “No,” he answered
sarcastically. “I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away.”
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand
under his arm. “What are you doing, lady?” the man asked angrily. “I said to
leave me alone.”
Just then a policeman came up. “Is there any problem, Ma'am?” he asked.
“No problem here, officer,” the woman answered. “I'm just trying to get this
man to his feet. Will you help me?” The officer scratched his head. “That's old
Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want
with him?” “See that cafeteria over there?” she asked. “I'm going to get him
something to eat and get him out of the cold for a while.” “Are you crazy,
lady?” the homeless man resisted. “I don't want to go in there!” Then he felt
strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. “Let me go, officer. I didn't
do anything.”
“This is a good deal for you, Jack” the officer answered. “Don't blow it.”
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack
into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle
of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch
bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by this table. “What's going
on here, Officer?” he asked. “What is all this, is this man in trouble?”
“This lady brought this man in here to be fed,” the policeman answered.
“Not in here!” the manager replied angrily. “Having a person like that here is
bad for business.”
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. “See, Lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let
me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place.”
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled...“Sir, are you familiar
with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?”
“Of course I am,” the manager answered impatiently. “They hold their weekly
meetings in one of my banquet rooms.”
“And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly
meetings?”
“What business is that of yours?”
“I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company.”
“Oh.”
The woman smiled again. “I thought that might make a difference.” She glanced
at the cop who was busy stifling a chuckle. Officer, “Would you like to join us for a cup
of coffee or a meal?”
“No thanks, Ma'am,” the officer replied. “I'm on duty.” “Perhaps, a cup of coffee?”
“Yes Ma’am. That would be very nice.”
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, “I'll get your coffee for you right
away, Officer.”
The officer watched him walk away. “You certainly put him in his place,” he
said.
“That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this.” She
sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him
intently. “Jack, do you remember me?”
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. “I think so… I mean you
do look familiar.”
“I'm a little older perhaps,” she said. “Maybe I've even filled out more than
in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door,
cold and hungry.”
“Ma'am?” the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a
magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
“I was just out of college,” the woman began. “I had come to the city looking
for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few
cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days.
It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked
in on the off chance that I could get something to eat.”
Jack lit up with a smile. “Now I remember,” he said. “I was behind the serving
counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I
said that it was against company policy.”
“I know,” the woman continued. “Then you made me the biggest roast beef
sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over
to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble...
Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash
register, I knew then that everything would be all right.”
“So you started your own business?” Old Jack said.
“I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my
own business that, with the help of God, prospered.” She opened her purse and
pulled out a business card. “When you are finished here, I want you to pay a
visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk
to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the
office.” She smiled. “I think he might even find the funds to give you a little
advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get
on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you.”
There were tears in the old man's eyes. “How can I ever thank you?” he said.
“Don't thank me,” the woman answered. “To God goes the glory. Thank God... He
led me to you.”
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before
going their separate ways.
“Thank you for all your help, Officer,” she said.
“On the contrary, Ms. Eddy,” he answered. “Thank you. I saw a miracle today,
something that I will never forget. And… and thank you for the coffee!”
God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in
your favour.
God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.
Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...
LIVE WELL, LOVE MUCH, LAUGH OFTEN
