Thoughts on Kindness: Just DO Something!
I remember watching this message by Francis Chan called, "Just Do Something." And no later than a few days after watching it, I was challenged to actually live it.
I had gotten up at around 5 a.m. to feed my little one so I could take my husband to work. (If you're married and know about that #onecarlife, you feel my pain + drowsiness. lol)
After dropping him off, I thought I'd stop by Chick-Fil-A to grab some breakfast on the way back home. Unfortunately for my chicken mini cravings, they were closed. They didn't open until 6:30, and though that would've only required me to wait for 15 minutes, I drove to McDonald's instead. (Don't judge me.)
As I turned the corner, I spotted 2 men who appeared to be homeless. They were standing on the sidewalk chatting, and immediately, I thought about Francis Chan's words: "just do something."
A strong, nagging conviction struck me immediately. I felt like this very moment was exactly what Francis was talking about when he said
Jesus commanded us to do and go–
–in this particular case, by feeding the hungry.
As usual, I began questioning if I was really hearing God or if it was just me. Then in came the excuses, like I shouldn't even really be spending extra money anyway, but then I felt guilty because I was still planning on getting some food for myself.
By the time I made it to the drive-thru, I was thinking, Okay, I'm gonna do this! And like a brain on auto-pilot, when the girl on the intercom asked me what I'd like to order, my mouth said, "Just a sausage McGriddle and a small orange juice."
She gave me my total. And I pulled forward.
It wasn't until I got to the window that I realized I did the exact opposite of what I was supposed to do!!
I paid for my food, feeling all kindsa shameful. And then honestly, I also felt this sneaky sense of relief...like oh well, since I 'forgot' to order, it makes no sense to go back through the drive-thru again. Those guys are probably gone by now...it's too late...
Excuses. Excuses.
After grabbing my food and heading out the drive-thru lane, I had a sudden change of heart. I thought, you know what? I'm gonna drive back toward where those men where and see if I can give them my food.
And behold! haha
One of the men––the one out of the pair who appeared to be a little more rough around the edges––was walking up the street. I had intercepted him right at the driveway next to the Mickey D's!
I rolled down my window and held my hand out to give him the food and OJ. His eyes grew wide with a smile. "Here you go," I said. "This is for you."
He took the items from my hands and said something like, "If God's love ain't good..."
I smiled.
He said, "God bless you," and I drove off.
Driving up the street, I found myself praying for him, that God would show him he's loved, seen + not forgotten. Even though I flubbed, I thanked God for the chance to help someone, and decided to go back through the drive-thru to buy myself some breakfast anyway. haha
Pulling up for the second time, I re-ordered my OJ + McGriddle. The line was much longer this time, so I had some waiting to do.
Then I thought, even though Jesus said to feed the hungry, does that really even have any eternal value?
I wrestled with the question, wondering how a meal in someone's belly could shake up heaven. Until I pulled up to the first window to pay for my food.
I realized that fulfilling a practical or material need for someone does matter because it shows them that God loves them, sees them and is providing for them.
I handed the cashier my debit card, wondering if she was judging me for having just saw me in this line not that long ago.
"Oh, the car ahead of you paid for you," she said, as she signaled she didn't need my card.
"WHAT?! Seriously?"
I asked if I could have the receipt, and she agreed.
By the time I pulled ahead to get my food and sped out of the drive-thru hoping to thank the good Samaritans, the car that was ahead of me was long gone.
I was speechless. Sure, my order was only $6.24, but I thanked God that someone went out of their way to do that. Like how cool is that? That's never happened to me before!
Then, I thought about how that homeless man must've felt. And that one verse came to mind:
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." – Luke 6:38
Though my insecurities and pride and doubt and selfishness initially kicked in, ultimately, I bit the bullet to do what God had asked of me.
I didn't just gain joy from being obedient. I was also rewarded for being obedient!
Jesus said we make him known by how we love one another. And that little somethin' somethin' of a meal for that man was a reminder that God hadn't forgotten about him. And the person who paid for my food helped me to see God also hadn't forgotten about me.
I wonder if that person in the car ahead of me was in the drive-thru for the second time too.
I wonder if they had the same inner wrestle.
I wonder if their hearts + wallets were trying to convince them their kindness wasn't that big of a deal.
I know I have this annoying tendency to overcomplicate things.
And I bet I'm not alone here when it comes to turning love into something that's this farfetched, complex, grandiose act of goodness.
Love is simple. And as Bob Goff puts it, love does.
I want to live like that, to love like that, always. Just simply meeting people right where they are at their point of need––just like I'd want someone to do for me if I were in their shoes.