"I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would call a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes and no money. There are times when you feel generous, but there are other times when you just don't want to be bothered, and this was one of those times.
“‘I hope he doesn't ask me for money,’ I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop, but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. ‘That's a very pretty car.’ He was ragged, but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blonde beard kept more than his face warm. I said, ‘Thanks,’ and continued wiping off my car. He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened, something inside said, ‘Ask him if he needs any help.’
“I was sure that he would say ‘Yes,’ but I held true to the inner voice. ‘Do you need any help?’ I asked. He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. ‘Don’t we all?’ he said. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched, grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me. I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a 12-gauge shotgun. ‘Don't we all?’
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help, too. No matter how little you have, no matter your problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets, but maybe he was more than that. Maybe God looked down, called an angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, ‘Go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help.’”
Hope you will remember those three little words: “Don't we all?”
You can easily judge the character of anyone by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
