As the homeless man approached, we knew we’d found our ministry project.
“Ola!” I chirped, hoping to piece together enough Spanish to carry out our mission. “Como esta?”
“Ugh,” he grunted. His crusty eyes met mine as he managed a snaggletooth smile, “Quetzals?”
I sighed as I pondered his request for money. My friend Jeff and I had been charged with an assignment: take 40 Guatemalan quetzals and bless someone in the village. We decided against a simple handout, so we made this man an offer.
“Comida?” I asked, hoping the man would let us buy him some food. A couple of blocks away at the city park, vendors sold hot dogs and empanadas. What we lacked in language skills we figured could make up for with a cheerful act of kindness.
“Comida?” Jeff repeated, motioning toward the park.
“Ugh,” the man grunted again, nodding in agreement.
We ambled down the uneven cobblestone streets. “Mi nombre es Jeff,” my friend explained, “y mi amiga es Susanna.”
“Como te llamas?” I asked.
“Miguel,” he answered.
Our Spanish skills exhausted, Jeff and I continued down the street, smiling as our new amigo followed.
Approaching a convenience market, we decided to buy a bottle of water for Miguel. We watched as he fumbled with the cap. Jeff twisted it free, and we tried not to stare as this thirsty man guzzled the bottle’s contents.
“Quetzals?” Miguel inquired.
“No quetzals. Comida!” I countered.
I didn’t like where this conversation was headed. I could smell the alcohol on Miguel’s breath, but hoped the prospect of food would outweigh his desire for a drink.
“Quetzals?” Miguel persisted.
I looked at Jeff. “I don’t think he wants any food.”
“Miguel,” Jeff looked into his crusty eyes, “no quetzals. Te gusta la comida?”
Miguel turned to me. “Quetzals?”
“No quetzals, Miguel. Comida, pero no quetzals.”
Dejected, he turned and shuffled back down the street, my heart sinking with each step.
It seemed like such a simple assignment: find someone and bless them. We found one who was poor and downtrodden, one who needed a blessing, but who wouldn’t accept one.
I wonder how many times I’ve done that to God. Started to follow Him and accepted His “water,” but when the next gift wasn’t what I wanted…
Or what I thought I needed…
Photo Courtesy of Alene Snodgrass
He knows us far better than we know ourselves…
~Romans 8:27a (MSG)
I’ll probably never see Miguel again, and I’ll never have another opportunity to bless him. But, the next time I sense God offering me a gift, even if it’s not what I want, I’ll try not to walk away.
Goodness, Susan, what a picture of the displaced disappointment we often feel when it comes to the gifts of the Father. Like you wanted with Miguel, God wants to bless us, but we’re often short-sighted to the opportunities He has ahead.
My desires cannot compare to the riches He wants to bestow on me. And yet, I want what I want, and I want it now.
Thank you for helping me see myself.
Thank you for taking time to read and comment, Vonda. Convicting, isn’t it. It makes me sad to think of some of the blessings I’ve walked away from.
Oh Susan, what a post. So many times, like you, I’ve said “no” to God when He’s offered me a gift just because it wasn’t what I thought I wanted. Thank you so much for being so transparent and letting me see myself in this homeless man. My prayer for you is that some day you’ll get to see him again and he’ll accept the blessing. Love you, sweet friend!
Thanks, Jamie. Wouldn’t it be great if the Lord arranged that?
What a powerful story, Susan. God’s gift of waiting is one I’ve rejected in the past. Graciously, He’s shown (and continues to show) me the blessings that come when I embrace it.
Amen, Jodi. So grateful for new mercies. Thanks for stopping by.
Poignant and powerful illustration. I hope you did get to find someone who would receive.
Yes we did, Marcia, and you’d have loved it. You probably recognize the park we were headed to. An ice cream man came by, and we bought ice cream for the kids playing there! Jeff is a professional photographer and took lots of photos, but his laptop is in the shop and he hasn’t been able to work on his shots. I might tell that story when I get some images.
Wow, Susan. this is very convicting. I must turn blessings away often. Thank you for inviting me to stop and consider this!
So glad you stopped by today, Mandy. There’s plenty of conviction for all of us
Hi Susan
I always feel so sorry for these people who are so poor and downtrodden who have given up on life and weeked solace in alcohol! We have sooo many of them in South Africa and I always wish I could just hold them telling them that their Pappa God loves them soooo….. much!
Much love
Mia
Addiction is a mean beast, isn’t it, Mia? It totally consumes! A relationship with the Lord is about the only thing that can break those jaws. So glad to see you here today. Thank you!
Oi…guilty. I’m certain that’s been me.
but not today…so thankful for the grace that allows me to remove that label and say yes to His blessings! Thank you, Susan!
I’m saying yes today too, Nikki. Praying your day is blessed!
I will be praying for this man to drink deeply from Living Water. You planted a seed by showing him the love of Christ. We never know how that seed might come to fruition but we know your meeting him was no coincidence. God bless you, my friend.
Thank you, Cathy. God is the only one who knows how much Miguel really heard that day. That’s another slant to this story. Maybe for another day
God wastes nothing. Not even an unreceptive homeless man.
No, Katie. He does NOT. Lots of lessons from this experience.
Oh my — in tears. I know that is me . . . wanting what I want and when I want it. That makes me sound like a little two-year old brat. Ouch!!! I will totally remember this story in a whole new light. Love ya friend!
I hear ya, Alene. I’m right there in the playpen with you
And this story has so many angles and lessons. It’ll be interesting to see how Jeff and I process it.
Thanks for stopping by. Hugs from VA to you, my Corpus Christi chica!
What a story………and yes, I’m in tears too. I pray for those people and am so glad that you got to go on this trip. I KNOW, KNOW, KNOW you touched so many people!!!! ♥
That trip was SUCH a blessing, Sandi, and I’m dragging you along next time! And the Guatemalans had a far deeper affect on me than I could ever have on them.
Wow. And Susan the last thing I expected you to do with this story is show how You are like the crusty eyed man- and yet we are all poor and need help like him, and walk away from it. We all are more like Miguel than we would care to admit. It’s much easier to be the one handing out blessing. Thanks for this thought provoking post.
Aha, Julia – a switch-a-roo! Thank you for that. Yes, it puts the story in a different perspective when you realize that we’re the crusty-eyed homeless one. Thank you for stopping by today!
Reminds me of Belize when we were approached to buy drugs from him….. hmmmmm we wish we could give him the Living Water.
Thanks for sharing susan. 
Oh Anita, I think we had a great encounter with that man and his wife! She was a believer and had been praying for him. And U KNOW Med did a number on him, challenging him to stop dealing drugs and start taking care of his family! I wish I had their names, but thanks for reminding me about them. I’m praying for them, and God knows where they are and what they need.
I am stricken with conviction. Sadly, I’m sure I reject His blessings.
Beautiful post, Susan. I love you!
Love you too, Kristi. Glad we can walk in new mercies every morning.
I remember you sharing this story. And it is still heartbreaking, but oh my, I hadn’t even thought of how I so often do this same thing to the Lord. What a powerful reminder to accept His gifts even when they aren’t what we expected or thought we wanted! Thanks for sharing this!
Hi there, Emily. So glad you stopped by! It’s interesting to share this with the group, then get home and start pondering the lessons. And this encounter has MANY. I hope Jeff will share his perspective soon.
Susan…I love the parallel here. I agree, how often have I turned down a gift God knew I needed…like the gift of two viruses back to back in Febuary. I guess God wanted my attention big time so my heart could be prepared for the days ahead. He showed me some things that needed to be laid aside and a new attitude implanted. Oh, but then the joy that came as I listened to His voice and meditated on Romans 8…Never thought I would thank the Lord for the gift of sickness, but then I remember the exhortation of the psalmist. It is good that I have been afflicted…that I might learn the ways of the Lord.
Not everyone can rejoice in affliction, Glenda, but I’m not surprised that you can. Your comment reminded me of a conversation I had with my aunt this morning. She recently started chemo for breast cancer, and was rejoicing that she had been chosen to carry that burden.
Yes, she’s my hero
Susan,
This is beautiful and you’ve tied in such a teachable moment for us. Thank you for sharing with us. You’ve blessed my heart.
Much Love, Hester
Love you, Hester. You’re an amazing encourager and I’m so grateful for your friendship and your encouragement.
Such disappointment. It’s a powerful parable of our lives. Thank you for going to Guatemala where you blessed those beautiful people. My heart is always close to Guatemala.
Thanks, Rhonda. Yes, Guatemala — a stone’s throw from Nica
Wow– great illustration! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by, Melinda! So much to apply here, isn’t there?
God always knows best what we need — that’s perhaps the most poignant aspect of this interaction to me. How quickly I’ll exchange my desperate needs for a momentary desire. Praying with openhandedness today instead of my list. Thanks, Susan!
Amen, Kirsten. Open hands and empty lists – I like that!
Such a hard situation. I’ve been in similar positions but they always accepted my offer of food, whether it was what they really wanted or not. I know it broke your heart for him to walk away. But God sees him and He is in control. Hopefully this man will remember your generosity and hold on to that little glimpse of the light of Christ.
I know, Celeste. As much as we wanted to make a difference in that man’s day, there’s a big part of me that’s content in knowing we did what we felt the Spirit leading us to do. We’re not responsible for results, just our obedience. I’m learning to rest in that.
Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment. Hugs from VA
oh, how heartbreaking, Susan…and how I know I have broken God’s heart when I have failed to see His good gifts, even when they have come heavily disguised, but later I discovered His love and goodness in it afterwards…I am teaching this Sat. and next week Thurs. and I covet your prayers…my sleep time has not been very good this week as we had visitors and our girl is off school…Thanks for offering to be my accountability partner…hugs to you
It’s a privilege to pray for/with you, Dolly. I know how lethargic you can feel after several nights of no rest, and how hard it is to focus. Lifting you up right now and asking the Lord to multiply both your rest and your focus!
Hugs back atcha
Beautiful picture of us, refusing what we really need. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Marina
I LOVE the way He used this to teach you a lesson that might not be immediately obvious- and you shared and taught us too! It certainly seems to resonate w people- thanks for sharing what you learned. I’m w Alene, I will think of this and similar situations in a whole new way now!
Wonderful point, Susan. It is so difficult to want to bless another and have them turn you away.
The number of blessings I don’t even know I walked away from would probably embarrass me. I will definitely be more aware now, thanks so much!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Kim. You know the passage in Revelation where it says God will wipe away our tears? I wonder if those are tears of regret for the things we missed on earth. Something to ponder.