Listen, I don't know where the world is going. To tell you the truth, just the prospect makes me sick to my stomach.

Birmingham, Alabama—in traffic, a busy intersection. I saw a man with a long wiry beard wander between the cars, holding a cardboard sign that read: “God bless you.”

The car ahead of me opened its passenger door. A young boy leapt out and handed the man a box of pizza. No sooner had he done so, than someone from another car gave the man bags of groceries. Then, someone gave him money. Then another person.

And another.

Soon, there were twenty hands poking out of car windows. I wish you could’ve seen that fella’s face.

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida—I got home from work to find my wife playing cards with a complete stranger. A sixteen-year-old girl, with dreadlocks, glittery-jeans, and a smile on her face.

“This is Taniqua,” said my wife. “Her car broke down, we’re waiting for the tow truck. Wanna play five-card draw?”

I stood dumbfounded.

Of course I wanted to play.

Taniqua dealt me in, and beat me silly. Then, my wife fixed everyone supper. When the tow truck came, Taniqua hugged my wife and said, “God bless you, ma’am.”

Wherever that girl is, I still owe her nine hundred thousand dollars.

Gulf Shores, Alabama—a young woman escorted a white-haired woman wearing slippers through the supermarket aisles. She let the woman touch items on the shelves, then recited the labels aloud.

“Mama,” the young woman said. “That’s maple syrup, don’t pick it up.”

They must’ve shuffled the whole store without buying a single thing.

When young woman noticed me staring, she said, “My mother has has a brain injury, and she likes grocery stores.”

I’ll bet she liked the company better.

Decatur, Georgia—a crowded lunch restaurant. A young man in a wheelchair struggled on the handicap ramp, his tire had gotten stuck. The cashier, a teenage boy, sprinted from behind the counter. He opened the door, then rolled the man ahead of the line.

He paid for the man’s lunch, then thanked him for his service to our country.

So did everyone in line.

Myself included.

Listen, I don’t know where the world is going. To tell you the truth, just the prospect makes me sick to my stomach. Each day more people die. More fighting, hatred, and senseless acts of politics.

Thus, if anyone reading this has ever fed a hungry person; changed someone’s tire; helped a stray dog; given a homeless man a box of pizza; or fired a rifle in the name of America and paid for it;

I don’t care if it’s politically incorrect to say it,

God bless you.

2 comments

  1. Jason - June 6, 2016 2:22 pm

    Thanks

    Reply
  2. Tish - June 11, 2016 2:30 am

    You really touch the heart of what matters.

    Reply

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