Vegas Soul – Feel Good Friday Read
By Lawana Rice
One day a man walked into a diner and took a seat. He was so broken he dared not to even lift his head. His appearance conveyed that he had not bathed, shaved, or washed his clothes for days. Many of the diners’ patrons were unhappy with him being there. Some complained, others moved far away. However, one kindhearted lady walked over to his table with a smile.
“I have no money,” he said softly. He continued to explain, “I just came in out of the cold.” The good-natured lady looked at him still smiling and replied, “Oh, ok.” She continued, “What would you like to eat?” He answered, “Just coffee, I don’t want to be a bother.” She said, “You’re not, order whatever you want. It’s on me,” as she turned to walk back to her table. “Thank you,” he whispered. “You’re welcome.” She smiled as she walked away.
When she finished her meal, she smiled as she walked past his table and to go to the counter and pay their bills. She left the restaurant and made her way to her office building. She struggled with how to tell her staff she may have to soon close the doors because they lack funding to continue their homeless support program.
Moments later, the waitress walked over to the man and handed him a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and on the inside was scribbled a note which read, “I eat here every morning at 8am. See you tomorrow. Come to this address we provide warm clothing and supportive services.”
Every morning, he showed up at 8am, by the third day they were sitting together sharing a meal. By the end of the month, she convinced him to reach out to his loved ones. A week later, he was on airplane going home to his family.
A month later, the man returned to the city and the restaurant at 8am hoping to find the lady there.
He sat down at the same table he had eaten before. The waitress that had served him many times before, took his order and went to get his beverage. When she returned, he asked about her about the lady that came in every morning at 8am and sat at the table across from him.
“She actually only dines on Saturday mornings.” The waitress replied.
Then the man fully understood the magnitude of her act of kindness toward him.
He paid for his meal and left, anxious about returning the next day hopeful that she would be there.
Like clockwork, the lady made her regular Saturday morning stop in for breakfast. She understood the struggle of the small businesses in her community, and she made it a point to support them as often as she could. The bell on the restaurant door rang as it usually did when customers entered the diner. The lady looked up to see and a well-dressed man step inside the doors. His face lit up as he hurried across the floor to her table. As he grew closer, she leaped to her feet with joy as she recognized him as the man, she has previously fed. A wordless embrace that spoke the volumes of unspeakable words suspended time as they held each other.
She remembered their last embrace when she dropped him off at the airport, patting him on the back as he walked towards the security point, assuring him that he could and was ready to pick up the pieces of his life. Taking her hands into his he thanked her repeatedly. “You saved my life that first day,” he said. “Your continual kindness and support gave me strength to face the mistakes I’d made and reclaim my life and my business.”
With that he reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table in front of her. He nodded, and she picked up the envelope and removed a check from inside. Her eyes widen in shock as the tears began to roll down her face.
“I cannot repay you for what you did for me”, he said, “but, I can help you help other people like me.” Sometimes our biggest blessing come in tattered packages.
We should never judge a book by its cover. Let love lead the way,
Lawana Rice
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