The People under the Bridge
by Suzanne Benner
**Does life seem too sad and discouraging at times? We would love to talk with you about that. http://talk.thelife.com/talk/ask-us/
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).
“I think there are people living up there, behind the pillars.”
“Those people are staying under the bridge because they don’t have a house.”
“I want to be friends with those people under the bridge.”
“We should help them.”
All fall, every day they drove under the highway overpass, the young boy watched for the people under the bridge and made comments to his mother. Unwilling to simply ignore his remarks, she asked him, “What do you think we should do?”
“I would give them a pillow,” was his response.
Not a complicated strategy to end homelessness, not an intellectual discussion on why poverty exists, just the offer of a pillow.
Well, not just a pillow.
When his mother agreed to buy some pillows, the boy thought blankets would be good too. When his mother suggested second hand blankets from the thrift store, he responded, “Mom it’s Christmas, we should give them new blankets. I have $75 in the bank, so I’ll buy the blankets.”
Not just new blankets, either.
“I think I should give a Bible to my friends under the bridge, because I have three and nobody needs three Bibles.”
And so that is how pillows, blankets, a jar of peanut butter, some bread and a Bible were put into a garbage bag tied up with a Christmas ribbon and delivered one night to the people under the bridge. Inside was a note that read: “God loves you through a nine year old boy.”
~O God, give us hearts like that nine year old boy, to truly care for those in need.
Question: How could you help someone that is in dire straights today with what you have? Ask yourself this question, “Do I really care about those in need?” How can we become more sensitive to the needs of others?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/suzanne-benner/
17 Responses to “The People under the Bridge”
Leave a Reply
Start a Conversation
Media
What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
>Watch
- Contact
- |
- Advertising
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Link to Us
- |
- Media Releases
- |
- What we believe
JUDY I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I WILL KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS.
SHARON B
Oh! Yikes! I’m sorry, Sharonb X-[ !
See what happens when I read too fast?!
Judy D.–doing some hurried catching up tonight
(my step-father in law died of a couple of days ago, so we’ve been busy with that, now, too–he was ready to go, though–he was a Purple Heart Marine who fought in Iwo Jima [spelling?] and he’d been spending his last days in diapers which he really hated)
—amazing! Congratulations and PTL :-}!
Continuing to pray and joining in a bond of agreement for Linda, Terry and Chris…may our Lord heal them and restore them and give them rest….Love to you all, Donna
Suzanne, what a touching devotional! I really touched my heart. Children teach us many times. Yes, we should have a tender heart and not neglect the needy people. Help them in any way we can, not only materially but also spiritually, like Barbara C said, to be a comforter, an encourager!
Linda R and Chris, I will remember you in my prayer!
JUDY D
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CAREING
SHARON B
Thank you, Sharon. I knew you had the mammogram, but had to go back for the biopsy. Had not heard about what you just wrote. Thank you, Lord, for your healing and watching over Sharon. You are the great Proctector, Healer, and Encourager. We praise you so much for watching over Sharon. In Christ I pray. AMen.
JUDY D
I POSTED IT ON THE BLOG BUT I DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE BIOPSY. WHEN THEY TOOK PICTURES JUST BEFORE THE SUGERY THERE WAS NOTHING THERE!!! THEY SPENT ONE HOUR DOING DIFFERENT VIEWS AND FINALLY THE DR. SAID WELL I CAN’T DO A BIOPSY IF THERE IS NOTHING THERE!! AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ON BOTH MAMAGRAMS. BUT NOT WHEN I WENT BACK TO GET THE BIOPSY!! ISN’T GOD GREAT??? I DO HVE TO GO BACK TO SEE THE DR. BUT THAT IS BECAUSE I HAVE HAD CANCER BEFORE AND MY MOTHER HAD BREAST CANCER AND MY BROTHER PASSED AWAY FROM LUNG CANCER BUT FOR NOW I AM JUST PRASING THE LORD FOR THE GOOD NEWS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS I COULD REALLY FELL THEM
SHARON B
Oh, thank you, Diane, for sharing about the projects your church did. I forwarded what you wrote to several other members in our bible study. Bless you!
So that is why we haven’t heard from Chris. I knew Linda R and her husband, Terry, were ill and went to the doctors, but had not heard about Chris. Thank you, Fran. I join with you in prayer.
Sharon, what did you find out from the doctor’s? I have still been praying.
My church did the same study 2 years ago and built a Habitat house for a young family. Building that house also resulted in a volunteer being saved.
That Bible study also birthed a bag lunch ministry (take-along brown bags) for those who used a “soup kitchen” in our town so that they could eat twice a day instead of just once. And it resulted in the church building becoming a regular site for the Red Cross blood mobile.
Both the of these ministries have continued long after the 40 days passed, so Judy D., so I pray that God will bless your groups and church and community as well :-}.
I have a down winter coat that was given to me but is too small. My landlord works in a downtown hospital and they collect coats for the needy in that area (impoverished area). I have been forgetting to give it to him to take in. Thanks for the reminder.
“My” town (7 miles from here) has a lot of homeless people these days. They aren’t all addicts, drunks, and/or mentally ill anymore, either. We had very bad flooding a couple of years ago, and two condo complexes were condemned afterward. This displaced a lot of people who weren’t affluent enough to weather the loss of their homes. We have also had a few thousand Mexicans move in (in a town 17,500 that is a lot) over the last 5 or so years, so housing is even more scarce than it used to be.
The thing is that a least some of these homeless people have a lot to offer (they aren’t all active drug addicts and/or alcoholics, and/or untreated mentally ill), given the chance. I have been surprised to hear good information about what’s happening in town (regarding governmental actions, business news, real estate, construction project plans) from some who were or are homeless.
Right now, we know a couple who might be living in a car (they were last year, anyway, and their mailing address and phone number are the Salvation Army’s [the guy volunteers there full time]) helping us locate resources for our new church (not a Salvation Army congregation)and for our Celebrate Recovery program.
Our church has some affluent, and “connected” people in it, and yet we are being helped by a homeless (or nearly so) couple belonging to “another” church :-}! How cool is that :-} ?!
Only God knows the value of a person; you might be surprised–like I have been–to find yourself being helped by the person(s) you thought that YOU were helping (…entertaining angels ? )!
Suzanne…
Thank you for the Beautiful Devotional, too…As I read it just now? I thought about “And a little child shall lead them”..Thanking the Lord for the beauty He sends to teach us through them daily…
And, thank Barbara C for the beautiful words of how we “can” share even when we think we have nothing to give..We do!!! Her words uplifting and so good..and those “smiles” given bless someone’s day, too! Loved the turning the :( into :) …and just that one simple act of smiling changes people’s day and outlook around..Thank you, Lord for Barbara C!!!!!!!!
Prayer Warriors…A Special Request For our Sisters Chris and LindaR….
LindaR sent a quick email this morning in answer to a question about Chris’ well being..As you know Linda and Terry are going through their own struggles overcoming a bad cold/flu/infection..Yet this precious “warrior” took time to let us all know and is too weak to come to blog and write..but misses us all just as we miss her..And has asked for prayers for our Sister Chris…..Chris is also struggling with a bad sinus infection and can’t go to Dr. until Friday..Transportation is always hard in her circumstances..Let’s bond in Agreement for both these beautiful earthen vessels ..used here often..and pray for a miraculous “way” for Chris to get to that Dr. even sooner than she expects..And a healing touch from our Lord this day…Be of good cheer, Chris..You aren’t forgotten…
And? Am Praising our Lord for Linda, too, for praying for us all even while she is waiting for her healing manifestation..and caring deeply for each one of us..Thank you, Lord, for sending her!!!
Thank you, dear Lord, for getting Linda and Terry to Dr. yesterday…It was a miracle from you as weak as they were feeling in this bodily attack..Thank You, Lord, for the loving, caring heart You placed in Linda to notifty us of Chris’ dilemma in getting to Dr…Lord, thank you for being with both these dear ladies today..We know you will honor the loving request from Linda for Chris..and we all join her in the bond of agreement in your precious name…JESUS..for healing and miraculous transportaton for Chris and whatever else she needs to reach the Dr.’s….Hallelujah and Amen for your answers, Lord..We love you…Praise You..And Believe in Your Solutions!!!
Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Often it is said, “out of the mouth of babes”. Their hearts are not hardened yet. Such love and compassion this young man in our devotional displayed. It does hit deeply into our hearts. . . my heart. For that is what I want to be. Compassionate. . . “love in action”. He saw a need and was touched to do something about it. Not to just drive by, saying that’s too bad. . . glad it is not me . . .they are there for a reason . . .
Our bible study is doing the 40 Days of Community by Rick Warren. Each bible study is to do is a service project in the community. We have been discussing various types of projects and homeless needs were mentioned. When I read today’s devotional it made me instantly think of our bible study and our service project quest. I emailed the devotional to several members of our bible study.
Thank you, Suzanne, for the very real and touching devotional. Bless you!
I THINK WE ALL COULD LEARN TO BE A LITTLE LIKE THAT 9 YEAR OLD BOY. SOMETIMES WE LEARN THE GREATEST LESSONS FORM OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
SHARON B
ladies i also think this is a good devotional today , lord i pray that you will help us all to do something good for someone else today. guid my heart hands and feet……….. yhank you for another day . i love you
Hello Ladies,
What a great devotional today. I LOVE it when they hit my heart in a place that I know I have been developing in more and more. It allows me to recognize the growth that I am making in my spiritual walk here on earth. Just this morning, I looked through my cabinets to find food that I do not need in order to bring such into work this day to place in our food drive donation boxes for the less fortunate.
I may not have extra fundings to donate and/or make a big differance in someone elses life at this time but with what little extras I do have to share with others I always tend to share it with those whom are less fortunate than I.
Most of the time I have come to realize that it is not found in the material things that we give out to others but in the little things that cost nothing at all.
I work in a place that is surrounded with all women comming and going and I have recognized that as I do my best to greet each and everyone of them with a smile and words of encouragment that this to is a gift of giving unto others whom are in need. Most of the women that come into my work place are down and have frowns on their faces but within a short time (usually 30 to 45 minutes) such frowns have turned upside down and they leave with smiles on their faces and a sense of wellbeing.
Today, as i go into work, I already know two ladies that I wish to be an encourager for in hopes to put a smile on their face instead of the frowns that they tend to carry around. These women do not need any material things they just need some extra TLC in order to help them get through the day and/or night.
It is amazing when and if each and everyone of us can go through the extra things within our closets, cabinets and attics/garages and clean out all of the extra stuff and pass it unto others whom truly can make use of it all. I beleive that we all can make a differance in this world if we continuously do some spring cleaning within our homes on a regular basis. And find a place that is in need of such stuff and donate it without expecting recognition nor anything in return.
Lord I pray that we will all be sensitive this day to see at least one need and allow us to go forth and fill that need for someone else today. Amen
Barbara C
I thught that was so awesome for a young boy to care so much, may we adults become more tenderheartsd toward the less fortunate and do something about it thus becomung like our Blessed Savior.