Reality Check

I walked up to the front desk a minute ago, just in time to witness an elderly woman standing at the front desk talking with Regina.

This woman was obviously homeless, or at the very least living in poverty that neither me nor my family has experienced. With her body shivering and her nose running she stuttered out the question, "may I please have a cup of coffee?"

There are multiple reasons as to why we should say "no" in situations like these, but how do you do that? I do not know. As I stood and looked at this woman I couldn't imagine what life must be like for her. What circumstances brought her to this place, where will she sleep tonight, has she eaten today?

What a dose of reality to make you realize what you have and should be thankful for. We wander around all the time wishing for more, planning for this or that, and taking for granted all that we have. What if "life" had not been so generous to us?

Father, help us to show compassion to those around us in need. Do not let us be so comfortable that we loose our gratitude or become encompassed with an attitude of entitlement. Let our words become actions rather than random mutterings with no intent. God remind us that we are blessed, and it is our responsibility to reach out "to the least of these".

Matthew 25: 34-46 
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My 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 took Me in; 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? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’"