Pecans

Yesterday after work I needed to go to the grocery store to pick up a few items in the continual uphill battle to keep my kitchen stocked. The store, being just a few blocks from where I live, offered a short drive, mostly through residential neighborhoods. As I turned onto my street my eyes quickly scanned in the direction of my house. When my eyes locked in on the location I was shocked to see a man bent over in my yard shoveling pecans into his bucket at rapid pace. I was so shocked that I drove right by my house. Turning around in a near by drive-way I began going through exactly what I would say to the pecan snatcher when I spoke to him. "Hey! What do you think your doing!" or maybe "Those aren't your pecans! Dump them out!" But instead of those a different thought came to heart and mind.

I drove into the drive-way of my house and as I passed the man looked up with terror in his eyes, and I could see that he was thinking about running. I stepped out of my car and he came towards me looking very frightened and apologetic. He was an elderly Hispanic man who looked as if he had spent a few to many years doing manual labor. Looking at me with his head bowed low he said, "I sorry, I sorry." I smiled. Then after reassuring him that I wasn't angry showed him that some of the pecans in the yard had worms in them and to avoid them because they were no good. I then retrieved my pecan picker tool that would allow a person to pick up the pecans without bending over, showed him how it worked, and handed him the tool. He smiled, "Gracious!"

Retrieving my groceries from the car I walked inside and set them down. Feeling unsatisfied with the level of aid I had given the man I decided to cook him a cheese burger on my George Foreman. Before putting up my groceries I quickly pulled a patty out of the fridge threw a little seasoning on it and placed on the lean mean fat reducing grilling machine. A few minutes latter I walked outside handed the man the hot sandwich, and a bottled drink. He smiled, half in enthusiasm, half in shock as he took the food and drink from my hands.

It is times like these in life when I feel the effectiveness of my call. Jesus himself said the greatest commandment is to, "Love the Lord your God with our your heart, soul, and mind...and the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39) Love God and love people. I think Jesus was on to something.


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