My dad asked me if I wanted to take a day off from school and spend some time, just he and I, in downtown Sacramento. Off course, I jumped all over the chance to miss a day of school. I really was excited to spend some time with my dad. You need to know that I was sixteen at the time. We walked around the "old" part of Sacramento. The city of Sacramento has made it really nice and there are fun stores and shops to look in. We went down by the edge of the river that meanders its way through that part of town. At lunchtime, dad suggested that we go get a bite to eat. As we approached Burger King, I could see a homeless man up ahead. He had strategically placed himself outside of Burger King hoping to get someone to help him. I could see that he was clearly homeless by the look of his tattered clothing and the bottom of his feet were completely black with filth. The thoughts in my young mind were unkind as we got closer to the man. His eyes screamed desperation and my heart was closed to help him. My dad, however, was different. With a soft voice the man pleaded, "Sir, can you help me?" My dad being the compassionate person that he is invited the man to come and eat with us. Bear with me as I tell you how disgusted I was at the time. My dad wasn't just giving some money to help the man, he just invited this filthy man to come into Burger King and eat with us. Dad opened the door for this stranger and I. The smell from the filth was hard to take and I wondered if I was hungry at all. The three of us approached the front of the store where we would place our order. I looked over at my dad who didn't seem the least bit embarrassed by the situation. I couldn't stand the thought of what was really happening. We got our food and found a spot where we could sit down. "Where are you from?" my dad asked the homeless man. His answer came quietly. A conversation began between the man and my compassionate father. I listened trying very hard to not have to be a part. I learned a lot from the man as he spoke of sadness and misfortune that played out in his life. I learned the most by listening to the true love that dad displayed for this man. We finished our lunch and walked out of Burger King. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" dad asked. I will never forget the look in the man's eyes as the desperation in his eyes lessened because someone had taken the time to love him and listen to him.
The man walked away and my sixteen year old heart was changed. I had learned something.. First, my dad took the time to want to be with me. Second, my dad had helped someone without giving a second thought to their situation. Third, what my dad taught me that day would be valuable for me to help someone later down the road.
The challenge is that you never give a second thought to how somebody looks or acts because that person might be the individual that you end up loving the very most.
