Steve
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WANT TO KNOW JUST HOW LITTLE FAITH WE SOMETIMES HAVE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WE CLAIM….PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ A TESTIMONY THAT IS NOT ONLY SPECIAL… BUT POWERFUL.
THIS IS STEVE AND HE HAS BEEN ON THE STREETS FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS… ½ OF HIS LIFE. I WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT HIM AS I GO… BUT FIRST… I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW I MET STEVE. ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO AS I WAS PULLING THROUGH STARBUCKS DELIGHTING IN THE $7.00 FRAPPUCCINO I WAS ABOUT TO INDULGE IN, I LOOKED OVER AND SEEN A MAN SITTING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL EATING BEANS FROM A CAN. HONESTLY, I FELT A LITTLE GUILTY FOR WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO PARTAKE IN AFTER SEEING WHAT HE WAS EATING SO I PARKED MY CAR AND MY SON AND I MADE OUR WAY OVER WHERE WE SHOOK HIS HAND AND INTRODUCED OURSELVES. AS HE LOOKED UP, I NOTICED A SET OF THE BLUEST EYES I’VE EVER SEEN… BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY… A PEACE IN THEM THAT WAS UNFAMILIAR YET COMFORTING AS HE REPLIED “I’M STEVE”. I ASKED STEVE IF I COULD BUY HIM SOMETHING FROM CHIC-FIL-A. I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN BACK BY HIS ANSWER “ NO THANK YOU”. HE FINISHED OFF THAT REPLY WITH A HALF GRIN AS HE SEEMED QUITE CONTENT WITH HIS MEAL. AS PUZZLED AS I WAS… I WISHED HIM WELL AND WE WENT ON OUR WAY. LIVING IN THE AREA I WOULD SEE STEVE QUITE FREQUENTLY. HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE ON A MISSION… JUST HIM AND HIS BACK PACK AND A LARGE MUG OF WHAT I KNOW NOW WAS COFFEE. HE ALWAYS HAD HIS HEAD DOWN AND I NEVER WITNESSED HIM ASKING ANYONE FOR ANYTHING… AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I WOULD ASK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO OR GET FOR HIM HE WOULD HUMBLY SAY “NO THANK YOU, GOD WILL PROVIDE”. AS TIME WENT ON, I WOULD SEE HIM PICK UP TRASH FROM PARKING LOTS, WIPE DOWN WINDOW SEALS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVEN RETURN BUGGIES INTO THEIR HOLDING RACKS FROM BEING LEFT HAPHAZARDLY BY SHOPPERS. I ASSUMED HE WAS BEING PAID FOR THESE DEEDS BECAUSE OFTEN I’D FIND MYSELF AT THE REGISTER IN FRONT OF HIM AT A LOCAL STORE. I COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE THE CONTENT OF HIS BUGGY WAS USUALLY CAT FOOD, CAT TREATS, TUNA FISH AND BOTTLED WATER. OCCASIONALLY HE WOULD ACCEPT ASSISTANCE BUT YOU COULD TELL HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE A BURDEN OR TAKE WHAT HE CONSIDERED TO BE A HANDOUT. THROUGH THE YEARS I BECAME MORE AND MORE INTRIGUED BY THIS MAN WHO SEEMED JOYFULLY CONTENT AND I WANTED TO KNOW HIS STORY. SO ONE DAY… I SIMPLY ASKED. IN CONVERSATION (MAINLY HIM MERELY ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS I ASKED) HE SPOKE TO ME IN A QUIET, ALMOST BASHFUL VOICE. I LEARNED HIS FIRST AND LAST NAME, HOW OLD HE WAS AND HIS DOB. HE SAID THAT HE IS FROM OHIO, THAT HE HAS 4 CHILDREN AND HAD BEEN ESTRANGED FROM HIS FAMILY AT THAT TIME FOR 24 YEARS. (NOW 30 YEARS / 10 OF WHICH HE HAS BEEN IN TEXARKANA) AS WE TALKED AND HE BEGAN TO SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER HARDSHIPS… IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO REALIZE THAT THIS MAN WAS NOT AT ALL SADDENED BY HIS SITUATION BUT FELT THAT HE WAS GRACIOUSLY FOLLOWING GODS WISHES. I ASKED HIM HOW HE CAME TO LIVE ON THE STREETS AND HE DIDN’T HESITATE TO SHARE THAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO THE STREETS TO MAKE HIM MORE VULNERABLE TO HIS WORD. HE SAID THAT HE HAD FAITH THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE FOR HIM AND THAT HE NEVER WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING BECAUSE GOD WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. HE SAID THAT IF HE EATS ITS BECAUSE GOD PROVIDES IT, AND IF HE SUFFERS, IT IS BECAUSE GOD ALLOWS IT. HE PRAISED GOD IN EVERY SENTENCE AND YOU COULD TRULY TELL THAT HE GENUINELY SEES HIS LIFESTYLE AS A WAY OF COMPLETELY TRUSTING GOD. HE SAID HE DOESN’T REALLY THINK ABOUT MONEY OR CHANGING HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE IS EXACTLY WHERE GOD NOT ONLY WANTED HIM TO BE… BUT NEEDED HIM TO BE IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HIS WILL. SINCE I NOTICED THE AVID AMOUNT OF CAT FOOD HE WOULD PURCHASE I INQUIRED ABOUT THAT AS WELL, ASKING HIM IF HE HAD PET CATS. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST GRIN I WITNESSED.. AS HE TALKED ABOUT NOT ONLY HIS CATS AND SEVERAL KITTENS BUT ALSO RACCOONS & POSSUMS THAT HE HAD BEFRIENDED AS WELL. BASED ON HIS SELFLESSNESS OF MAKING SURE THEY HAD FOOD WHEN HE HAD NONE MADE IT VERY OBVIOUS THAT HE VALUED THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN A WORLD WHERE GOD WAS THE ONLY OTHER ONE GIVING IT TO HIM. QUITE HONESTLY IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO WRAP MY WORLDLY TAINTED MIND AROUND EVERYTHING HE WAS SHARING... AND WITH A SMILE I MIGHT ADD. IT WAS SO TOUCHING THAT WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR THAY DAY, I WROTE IT ALL DOWN IN MY NOTES SO THAT I WOULD NEVER FORGET HIS STORY. I DROVE AWAY FEELING SO HUMBLED AND THINKING HOW POWERFULLY HIS TESTIMONY JUST IMPACTED ME. I WANTED TO SHARE IT BUT DIDN’T FEEL IT WAS MY PLACE AT THE TIME. OFTEN, I WONDERED IF HE WAS COLD, OR HUNGRY OR BASKING IN THE HOT TEXAS SUN. I THOUGHT ABOUT HIS FAITH AS WELL AND HOW HE FOUND GOOD WHERE HIS REALITY WAS BAD IN COMPARISON TO MOST. I GREW NOT ONLY TO BE INTRIGUED BY STEVE, BUT TO RESPECT HIM IN SO MANY WAYS AND OFTEN FOUND MYSELF LOOKING FOR HIM IF FOR NOTHING ELSE JUST TO SAY HELLO AND GET A HUG.
FAST FORWARDING THROUGH THE YEARS…I KEPT UP WITH STEVE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS I’M ALMOST CERTAIN… I THINK SEVERAL ONLOOKERS TOOK NOTICE OF HIS MEEK LIFESTYLE AND HUMBLE HONEST WAYS. PERHAPS HE DIDN’T NOTICE THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM SO MUCH, BUT I PROMISE YOU THEY WERE NOTICING HIM. IN DECEMBER OF 2018 WHILE AT WORK MY HUSBAND SENT ME A SCREENSHOT OF WHERE SOMEONE HAD WITNESSED THE HOMELESS MAN THAT WAS ALWAYS ON RICHMOND ROAD HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND ACTUALLY CALLING AN AMBULANCE FOR HIM. FROM THE DESCRIPTION I KNEW IT WAS STEVE. MY OWN HEART WAS AFFECTED AS I READ ALL OF THE GRACIOUS RESPONSES THANKING THE YOUNG MAN WHO CALLED 911. SO MANY PEOPLE WERE SINGING HIS PRAISES AND GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS WELL BEING. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE LET ME SEE STEVE IF I HADN’T KNOWN HIS LAST NAME... SO I WAS THANKFUL WE HAD SHARED THAT CONVERSATION YEARS EARLIER. STEVE HAD SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK AND RECEIVED A STINT BUT WAS IN ICU ON A VENTILATOR FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS… HE IS CURRENTLY IN REHAB AND I HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME VISITING WITH STEVE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF HIS INCIDENT … HE JUST REMEMBERS BEING WITH GOD AND GOD TELLING HIM THAT HE HAD TO GO BACK…HE SAID HE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE GOD BECAUSE IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL AND HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS COMING BACK TO…SUFFERING. BUT SINCE THEN CLAIMS THAT GOD HAS PLACED JOY STRONGER THAN EVER IN HIS HEART AND HE REALIZES GOD ALLOWED HIM TO GO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE IN ORDER TO GIVE HIM A SMALL GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN AND WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING WOULD ONE DAY COME. ACCORDING TO STEVE… THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING. THIS IS WHERE THE STORY COMES TO LIGHT AND WHY I FEEL IT’S SO RELEVANT….
I KEPT A CLOSE CHECK ON AND INITIALLY WENT TO SEE STEVE IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE I JUST COULD NOT FATHOM SOMEONE…. HAVING NO ONE! BUT I SOON REALIZED…. I WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD BE RECEIVING THE BLESSING FROM STEVE AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO.
AS I’M SITTING ACROSS FROM STEVE ON A VERY RECENT COLD DAY IN THE REHAB HOSPITAL, I’M STRESSING TO HIM MY WORRIES OVER HIM GOING BACK ONTO THE STREETS. AS I’M OFFERING HIM SEVERAL OPTIONS IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS AND TELLING HIM I’D LIKE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A PHONE SO HE CAN REACH SOMEONE IN AN EMERGENCY AND ASKING WHAT SIZE CLOTHES HE WEARS SO I CAN REPLACE THE ONES THEY CUT OFF OF HIM AND GOING ON AND ON ABOUT HOW I WANTED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HELP HIM IN ANY WAY NECESSARY …. I NOTICED A GRIN ON HIS CALM FACE AS HIS BLUE EYES MET MINE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF MY WORRY FILLED SENTENCES AND HE QUIETLY SAID… “GOD WILL PROVIDE, I DON’T KNOW… BUT GOD KNOWS… AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT ALL”. I SAT BACK IN THE CHAIR AND TEARS FILLED MY EYES… IN THAT MOMENT I REALIZED WHAT I WAS DOING…. I WAS CARRYING ALL OF THE BURDENS OF TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING WHEN THE PERSON MOST AFFECTED WAS COMPLETELY AND FULLY TRUSTING GOD. STEVE WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO. IT WAS A REALIZATION IN THAT MOMENT OF A TESTIMONY IN THE MAKING FOR 30 YEARS AND NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT. IN THAT VERY MOMENT I FELT SO SMALL IN HIS PRESENCE. A MAN WHO LITERALLY HAS NOTHING, HAS SO MUCH MORE THAN ME. AFTER THAT I THANKED STEVE FOR ALLOWING GOD TO USE HIM AND ALTHOUGH HE LOOKED CONFUSED… I ASSURED HIM THAT THROUGH THE PAST 30 YEARS OF HIS LIFE OF COMPLETE SUBMISSION … HE WAS RICHER THAN MOST PEOPLE I KNOW. AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO JUST TALK TO STEVE.. I QUIT TRYING TO FIX THINGS … I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HIM DEEPER… SO ONCE AGAIN… I SIMPLY ASKED. THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED…STEVE HAS FULL INTENTIONS OF GOING BACK TO THE STREETS AND HE’S MORE THAN READY TO GET OUT OF THE REHAB HOSPITAL AND BACK TO HIS CAMP AND CATS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT SOMEONE BOUGHT STEVE A TENT AT ONE TIME BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO PUT IT TOGETHER SO HE CUT IT INTO PIECES AND USES THAT ALONG WITH A TARP FOR A MAKESHIFT SHELTER. I ASKED HIM HOW HE STAYS WARM AND HE SAID HE BUILDS A FIRE WHEN HE CAN AND IF THERE IS DRY WOOD. HE SAID HE HAS A NICE THICK SLEEPING BAG BUT OCCASIONALLY IT GETS WET TOO. I LEARNED THAT HE DOES NOT GET PAID FOR ANY OF THE DEEDS I WITNESSED (PICKING UP TRASH, RETURNING BUGGIES, ETC) AND WHEN I ASKED WHY HE DOES IT HE REPLIED… “GOD DON’T LIKE A LAZY MAN”. HE SAID HE GETS MONEY FROM STRANGERS THAT WILL OCCASIONALLY SLIP HIM A 5, 10 OR 20 AND SOMETIMES MAYBE MORE. HE FULLY RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS GOD SENDING THOSE GRACIOUS BLESSINGS THROUGH OTHERS AND IS SURE TO GIVE HIM GLORY. HE SAID HE REFUSES TO BEG OR ASK FOR ANYTHING BUT SOMETIMES HE WILL ACCEPT HELP SO THAT HE CAN BUY CAT FOOD ALONG WITH OCCASIONAL BATTERIES FOR A RADIO OR OTHER FRUGAL NECESSITIES. I ASSUMED HE WAS BUYING HIMSELF FOOD AS WELL… BUT HE SAID AFTER HE SPENT THE MONEY ON THOSE FEW ITEMS THERE WAS USUALLY NOTHING LEFT AND SEEMED NOT BOTHERED AT ALL TO ADMIT HIS MEALS CAME FROM DUMPSTERS. AS I LISTENED MY HEART NEARLY IMPLODED .. I TOLD HIM HE DESERVES SO MUCH MORE THAN HE ALLOWS HIMSELF… AND HE SAID HE ONLY NEEDS WHAT GOD PROVIDES. I STRUGGLED WITH GUILT OVER MY OWN DAILY COMPLAINTS AND FELT SHAME FOR EVEN THE SMALLEST THINGS I TAKE FOR GRANTED. BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS HE NEVER COMPLAINED, INSTEAD SHARED AS IF THIS WAS ALL PERFECTLY NORMAL AS HE ASSURED ME “IM NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT… GOD ALWAYS TAKES CARE OF ME”.
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS I HAVE STRUGGLED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TO DO WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE I PRAYED VERY HARD FOR GOD TO LEAD ME IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP STEVE AND UPON OPENING ONE OF MY DEVOTIONALS FOR GUIDANCE … THIS WAS THE SCRIPTURE THAT I OPENED THE BOOK TO.
JESUS CALLED HIS DISCIPLES TO HIM AND SAID “ I ASSURE YOU,THIS POOR WIDOW HAS GIVEN MORE THAN ALL THE OTHERS HAVE GIVEN. FOR THEY GAVE A TINY PART OF THEIR SURPLUS, BUT SHE, POOR AS SHE IS, HAS GIVEN EVERYTHING SHE HAS” MARK 12:43-44
IT WAS SO CLEAR… WHEN CHRIST SAID THAT “SHE HAS GIVEN EVERYTHING SHE HAS” HE WAS SPECIFYING MORE THAN A MONETARY SACRIFICE. HE WAS DRAWING OUR ATTENTION TO THE POOR ONES LIFE SACRIFICE, THE PRACTICE OF LIVING IN COMPLETE SURRENDER AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO GOD. AND THAT IS A WHAT STEVE HAS DONE AND WISHES TO CONTINUE TO DO… ACCORDING TO HIM.. UNTIL HE GETS TO “GO BACK” TO BE WITH GOD. BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE MONETARY THINGS, IN ABUNDANCE … WE GIVE ONLY ENOUGH SO THAT WE ARE ALWAYS LEFT WITH PLENTY. MYSELF INCLUDED. I WAS SO MOVED BY THIS SCRIPTURE THAT AFTER READING THIS I SHARED IT WITH STEVE. HIS REPLY WAS MERELY GIVING GLORY TO GOD AS IF IT WAS NOT A MIRACULOUS FEAT… SIMPLY HUMBLE, TRUSTING AND FAITHFUL AS ALWAYS.
I ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW WHAT FACEBOOK WAS (WHICH WAS UNLIKELY OF COURSE SINCE HE HAS NEVER EVEN TOUCHED A CELL PHONE OR COMPUTER) BUT I WANTED HIM TO UNDERSTAND… SO I EXPLAINED IT AS A “NEWSPAPER ON YOUR PHONE” NOT JUST FOR LOCAL PEOPLE TO SEE, BUT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. I SHOWED HIM A FEW PICS AND STORIES FROM MY NEWSFEED TO BETTER EXPLAIN IT AND I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS OK WITH ME SHARING HIS STORY. HE SAID HE DIDN’T CARE BUT THAT GOD SAID NO ONE LISTENS TO A POOR MAN. (ECCLESIASTES 9) I ASSURED HIM THAT MANY WOULD READ HIS TESTIMONY AND PROMISED TO GIVE GOD ALL OF THE GLORY IN THIS. IT IS CERTAIN THAT STEVE WANTED NONE HIMSELF AND I FOR SURE WANT ONLY TO SHARE HIS TESTIMONY IN HOPES THAT THE PAST 30 YEARS OF STEVES SELFLESS LIFE WHERE HE HAS LIVED IN COMPLETE SURRENDER TO GOD…. WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
STEVE IS SO HUMBLE THAT WHEN I TOLD HIM HIS MANSION IN HEAVEN WOULD BE GLORIOUS BASED ON HIS DEVOTION TO GOD.. HE SO SOFLTY REPLIED “ I DON’T NEED MUCH…. JUST AS LONG AS I’M WITH HIM” . KNOWING HOW HE FEELS… I HONESTLY STARTED NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH A GO FUND ME ACCOUNT. ONLY BECAUSE STEVE DON’T WISH TO CHANGE HIS LIFE AND HE DOESN’T LIKE ATTENTION AND DEFINITELY WOULD NEVER ASK ANYONE FOR ANYTHING. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT HIS WISHES SO DEEPLY … I CAN’T BARE THE THOUGHT OF HIM HAVING TO SEARCH THROUGH A DUMPSTER FOR FOOD. ANY ASSISTANCE GIVEN WOULD ATLEAST ALLOW HIM THE OPTIONS OF BETTERING HIS SITUAION IF HE WISHES… BUT FOR SURE… IT WOULD GIVE HIM THE ABILITY TO BUY A WARM MEAL.
I HOPE THAT STEVES TESTIMONY AFFECTS YOUR HEART AND INFLUENCES YOUR LIFE AS MUCH AS IT DOES MINE. MAY WE NOT ONLY APPRECIATE OUR BLESSINGS THAT MUCH MORE, BUT ALSO REALIZE HOW MUCH WE TRULY HOLD BACK FROM GIVING COMPLETE TRUST TO GOD. MAY WE HAVE GREATER FAITH BECAUSE OF THE EXAMPLE STEVE IS AND THE TRUE GIFT OF SACRIFICE HE SO GRACIOUSLY DISPLAYS IN HIS QUEST TO FOLLOW GODS WILL. OH HOW I PRAY TO FIND THE JOY THAT STEVE POSESSES AND THE FAITH HE STANDS ON DAILY. PERHAPS WE WILL BE INFLUENCED NOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS AND WHAT WE MAY NOT HAVE… BUT INSTEAD FIND VALUE IN OUR TREASURES NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL WE MAY VIEW THEM.
I BELIEVE STEVES 30 YEARS(AND COUNTING) OF SEEKING GODS WILL IN COMPLETE SURRENDER IS WORTH SHARING… AND I’M 100% CERTAIN THAT HIS TESTIMONY AND FRIENDSHIP WILL FOREVER CHANGE MY LIFE. IF YOU FEEL LEAD TO DONATE... IM SURE STEVE WILL BE SO HUMBLED AND SUPRISED AT OTHERS MERCY AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP HIM THAT HE WILL SING GODS PRAISES EVEN LOUDER... AND AT THE END OF THE DAY.... THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. PRAISE BE TO HIM.... AND THANK YOU GOD... FOR THE BLESSING OF STEVE.
THIS IS STEVE AND HE HAS BEEN ON THE STREETS FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS… ½ OF HIS LIFE. I WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT HIM AS I GO… BUT FIRST… I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW I MET STEVE. ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO AS I WAS PULLING THROUGH STARBUCKS DELIGHTING IN THE $7.00 FRAPPUCCINO I WAS ABOUT TO INDULGE IN, I LOOKED OVER AND SEEN A MAN SITTING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL EATING BEANS FROM A CAN. HONESTLY, I FELT A LITTLE GUILTY FOR WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO PARTAKE IN AFTER SEEING WHAT HE WAS EATING SO I PARKED MY CAR AND MY SON AND I MADE OUR WAY OVER WHERE WE SHOOK HIS HAND AND INTRODUCED OURSELVES. AS HE LOOKED UP, I NOTICED A SET OF THE BLUEST EYES I’VE EVER SEEN… BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY… A PEACE IN THEM THAT WAS UNFAMILIAR YET COMFORTING AS HE REPLIED “I’M STEVE”. I ASKED STEVE IF I COULD BUY HIM SOMETHING FROM CHIC-FIL-A. I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN BACK BY HIS ANSWER “ NO THANK YOU”. HE FINISHED OFF THAT REPLY WITH A HALF GRIN AS HE SEEMED QUITE CONTENT WITH HIS MEAL. AS PUZZLED AS I WAS… I WISHED HIM WELL AND WE WENT ON OUR WAY. LIVING IN THE AREA I WOULD SEE STEVE QUITE FREQUENTLY. HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE ON A MISSION… JUST HIM AND HIS BACK PACK AND A LARGE MUG OF WHAT I KNOW NOW WAS COFFEE. HE ALWAYS HAD HIS HEAD DOWN AND I NEVER WITNESSED HIM ASKING ANYONE FOR ANYTHING… AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I WOULD ASK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO OR GET FOR HIM HE WOULD HUMBLY SAY “NO THANK YOU, GOD WILL PROVIDE”. AS TIME WENT ON, I WOULD SEE HIM PICK UP TRASH FROM PARKING LOTS, WIPE DOWN WINDOW SEALS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVEN RETURN BUGGIES INTO THEIR HOLDING RACKS FROM BEING LEFT HAPHAZARDLY BY SHOPPERS. I ASSUMED HE WAS BEING PAID FOR THESE DEEDS BECAUSE OFTEN I’D FIND MYSELF AT THE REGISTER IN FRONT OF HIM AT A LOCAL STORE. I COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE THE CONTENT OF HIS BUGGY WAS USUALLY CAT FOOD, CAT TREATS, TUNA FISH AND BOTTLED WATER. OCCASIONALLY HE WOULD ACCEPT ASSISTANCE BUT YOU COULD TELL HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE A BURDEN OR TAKE WHAT HE CONSIDERED TO BE A HANDOUT. THROUGH THE YEARS I BECAME MORE AND MORE INTRIGUED BY THIS MAN WHO SEEMED JOYFULLY CONTENT AND I WANTED TO KNOW HIS STORY. SO ONE DAY… I SIMPLY ASKED. IN CONVERSATION (MAINLY HIM MERELY ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS I ASKED) HE SPOKE TO ME IN A QUIET, ALMOST BASHFUL VOICE. I LEARNED HIS FIRST AND LAST NAME, HOW OLD HE WAS AND HIS DOB. HE SAID THAT HE IS FROM OHIO, THAT HE HAS 4 CHILDREN AND HAD BEEN ESTRANGED FROM HIS FAMILY AT THAT TIME FOR 24 YEARS. (NOW 30 YEARS / 10 OF WHICH HE HAS BEEN IN TEXARKANA) AS WE TALKED AND HE BEGAN TO SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER HARDSHIPS… IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO REALIZE THAT THIS MAN WAS NOT AT ALL SADDENED BY HIS SITUATION BUT FELT THAT HE WAS GRACIOUSLY FOLLOWING GODS WISHES. I ASKED HIM HOW HE CAME TO LIVE ON THE STREETS AND HE DIDN’T HESITATE TO SHARE THAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO THE STREETS TO MAKE HIM MORE VULNERABLE TO HIS WORD. HE SAID THAT HE HAD FAITH THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE FOR HIM AND THAT HE NEVER WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING BECAUSE GOD WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. HE SAID THAT IF HE EATS ITS BECAUSE GOD PROVIDES IT, AND IF HE SUFFERS, IT IS BECAUSE GOD ALLOWS IT. HE PRAISED GOD IN EVERY SENTENCE AND YOU COULD TRULY TELL THAT HE GENUINELY SEES HIS LIFESTYLE AS A WAY OF COMPLETELY TRUSTING GOD. HE SAID HE DOESN’T REALLY THINK ABOUT MONEY OR CHANGING HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE IS EXACTLY WHERE GOD NOT ONLY WANTED HIM TO BE… BUT NEEDED HIM TO BE IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HIS WILL. SINCE I NOTICED THE AVID AMOUNT OF CAT FOOD HE WOULD PURCHASE I INQUIRED ABOUT THAT AS WELL, ASKING HIM IF HE HAD PET CATS. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST GRIN I WITNESSED.. AS HE TALKED ABOUT NOT ONLY HIS CATS AND SEVERAL KITTENS BUT ALSO RACCOONS & POSSUMS THAT HE HAD BEFRIENDED AS WELL. BASED ON HIS SELFLESSNESS OF MAKING SURE THEY HAD FOOD WHEN HE HAD NONE MADE IT VERY OBVIOUS THAT HE VALUED THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN A WORLD WHERE GOD WAS THE ONLY OTHER ONE GIVING IT TO HIM. QUITE HONESTLY IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO WRAP MY WORLDLY TAINTED MIND AROUND EVERYTHING HE WAS SHARING... AND WITH A SMILE I MIGHT ADD. IT WAS SO TOUCHING THAT WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR THAY DAY, I WROTE IT ALL DOWN IN MY NOTES SO THAT I WOULD NEVER FORGET HIS STORY. I DROVE AWAY FEELING SO HUMBLED AND THINKING HOW POWERFULLY HIS TESTIMONY JUST IMPACTED ME. I WANTED TO SHARE IT BUT DIDN’T FEEL IT WAS MY PLACE AT THE TIME. OFTEN, I WONDERED IF HE WAS COLD, OR HUNGRY OR BASKING IN THE HOT TEXAS SUN. I THOUGHT ABOUT HIS FAITH AS WELL AND HOW HE FOUND GOOD WHERE HIS REALITY WAS BAD IN COMPARISON TO MOST. I GREW NOT ONLY TO BE INTRIGUED BY STEVE, BUT TO RESPECT HIM IN SO MANY WAYS AND OFTEN FOUND MYSELF LOOKING FOR HIM IF FOR NOTHING ELSE JUST TO SAY HELLO AND GET A HUG.
FAST FORWARDING THROUGH THE YEARS…I KEPT UP WITH STEVE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS I’M ALMOST CERTAIN… I THINK SEVERAL ONLOOKERS TOOK NOTICE OF HIS MEEK LIFESTYLE AND HUMBLE HONEST WAYS. PERHAPS HE DIDN’T NOTICE THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM SO MUCH, BUT I PROMISE YOU THEY WERE NOTICING HIM. IN DECEMBER OF 2018 WHILE AT WORK MY HUSBAND SENT ME A SCREENSHOT OF WHERE SOMEONE HAD WITNESSED THE HOMELESS MAN THAT WAS ALWAYS ON RICHMOND ROAD HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND ACTUALLY CALLING AN AMBULANCE FOR HIM. FROM THE DESCRIPTION I KNEW IT WAS STEVE. MY OWN HEART WAS AFFECTED AS I READ ALL OF THE GRACIOUS RESPONSES THANKING THE YOUNG MAN WHO CALLED 911. SO MANY PEOPLE WERE SINGING HIS PRAISES AND GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS WELL BEING. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE LET ME SEE STEVE IF I HADN’T KNOWN HIS LAST NAME... SO I WAS THANKFUL WE HAD SHARED THAT CONVERSATION YEARS EARLIER. STEVE HAD SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK AND RECEIVED A STINT BUT WAS IN ICU ON A VENTILATOR FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS… HE IS CURRENTLY IN REHAB AND I HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME VISITING WITH STEVE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF HIS INCIDENT … HE JUST REMEMBERS BEING WITH GOD AND GOD TELLING HIM THAT HE HAD TO GO BACK…HE SAID HE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE GOD BECAUSE IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL AND HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS COMING BACK TO…SUFFERING. BUT SINCE THEN CLAIMS THAT GOD HAS PLACED JOY STRONGER THAN EVER IN HIS HEART AND HE REALIZES GOD ALLOWED HIM TO GO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE IN ORDER TO GIVE HIM A SMALL GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN AND WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING WOULD ONE DAY COME. ACCORDING TO STEVE… THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING. THIS IS WHERE THE STORY COMES TO LIGHT AND WHY I FEEL IT’S SO RELEVANT….
I KEPT A CLOSE CHECK ON AND INITIALLY WENT TO SEE STEVE IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE I JUST COULD NOT FATHOM SOMEONE…. HAVING NO ONE! BUT I SOON REALIZED…. I WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD BE RECEIVING THE BLESSING FROM STEVE AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO.
AS I’M SITTING ACROSS FROM STEVE ON A VERY RECENT COLD DAY IN THE REHAB HOSPITAL, I’M STRESSING TO HIM MY WORRIES OVER HIM GOING BACK ONTO THE STREETS. AS I’M OFFERING HIM SEVERAL OPTIONS IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS AND TELLING HIM I’D LIKE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A PHONE SO HE CAN REACH SOMEONE IN AN EMERGENCY AND ASKING WHAT SIZE CLOTHES HE WEARS SO I CAN REPLACE THE ONES THEY CUT OFF OF HIM AND GOING ON AND ON ABOUT HOW I WANTED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HELP HIM IN ANY WAY NECESSARY …. I NOTICED A GRIN ON HIS CALM FACE AS HIS BLUE EYES MET MINE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF MY WORRY FILLED SENTENCES AND HE QUIETLY SAID… “GOD WILL PROVIDE, I DON’T KNOW… BUT GOD KNOWS… AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT ALL”. I SAT BACK IN THE CHAIR AND TEARS FILLED MY EYES… IN THAT MOMENT I REALIZED WHAT I WAS DOING…. I WAS CARRYING ALL OF THE BURDENS OF TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING WHEN THE PERSON MOST AFFECTED WAS COMPLETELY AND FULLY TRUSTING GOD. STEVE WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO. IT WAS A REALIZATION IN THAT MOMENT OF A TESTIMONY IN THE MAKING FOR 30 YEARS AND NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT. IN THAT VERY MOMENT I FELT SO SMALL IN HIS PRESENCE. A MAN WHO LITERALLY HAS NOTHING, HAS SO MUCH MORE THAN ME. AFTER THAT I THANKED STEVE FOR ALLOWING GOD TO USE HIM AND ALTHOUGH HE LOOKED CONFUSED… I ASSURED HIM THAT THROUGH THE PAST 30 YEARS OF HIS LIFE OF COMPLETE SUBMISSION … HE WAS RICHER THAN MOST PEOPLE I KNOW. AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO JUST TALK TO STEVE.. I QUIT TRYING TO FIX THINGS … I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HIM DEEPER… SO ONCE AGAIN… I SIMPLY ASKED. THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED…STEVE HAS FULL INTENTIONS OF GOING BACK TO THE STREETS AND HE’S MORE THAN READY TO GET OUT OF THE REHAB HOSPITAL AND BACK TO HIS CAMP AND CATS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT SOMEONE BOUGHT STEVE A TENT AT ONE TIME BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO PUT IT TOGETHER SO HE CUT IT INTO PIECES AND USES THAT ALONG WITH A TARP FOR A MAKESHIFT SHELTER. I ASKED HIM HOW HE STAYS WARM AND HE SAID HE BUILDS A FIRE WHEN HE CAN AND IF THERE IS DRY WOOD. HE SAID HE HAS A NICE THICK SLEEPING BAG BUT OCCASIONALLY IT GETS WET TOO. I LEARNED THAT HE DOES NOT GET PAID FOR ANY OF THE DEEDS I WITNESSED (PICKING UP TRASH, RETURNING BUGGIES, ETC) AND WHEN I ASKED WHY HE DOES IT HE REPLIED… “GOD DON’T LIKE A LAZY MAN”. HE SAID HE GETS MONEY FROM STRANGERS THAT WILL OCCASIONALLY SLIP HIM A 5, 10 OR 20 AND SOMETIMES MAYBE MORE. HE FULLY RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS GOD SENDING THOSE GRACIOUS BLESSINGS THROUGH OTHERS AND IS SURE TO GIVE HIM GLORY. HE SAID HE REFUSES TO BEG OR ASK FOR ANYTHING BUT SOMETIMES HE WILL ACCEPT HELP SO THAT HE CAN BUY CAT FOOD ALONG WITH OCCASIONAL BATTERIES FOR A RADIO OR OTHER FRUGAL NECESSITIES. I ASSUMED HE WAS BUYING HIMSELF FOOD AS WELL… BUT HE SAID AFTER HE SPENT THE MONEY ON THOSE FEW ITEMS THERE WAS USUALLY NOTHING LEFT AND SEEMED NOT BOTHERED AT ALL TO ADMIT HIS MEALS CAME FROM DUMPSTERS. AS I LISTENED MY HEART NEARLY IMPLODED .. I TOLD HIM HE DESERVES SO MUCH MORE THAN HE ALLOWS HIMSELF… AND HE SAID HE ONLY NEEDS WHAT GOD PROVIDES. I STRUGGLED WITH GUILT OVER MY OWN DAILY COMPLAINTS AND FELT SHAME FOR EVEN THE SMALLEST THINGS I TAKE FOR GRANTED. BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS HE NEVER COMPLAINED, INSTEAD SHARED AS IF THIS WAS ALL PERFECTLY NORMAL AS HE ASSURED ME “IM NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT… GOD ALWAYS TAKES CARE OF ME”.
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS I HAVE STRUGGLED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TO DO WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE I PRAYED VERY HARD FOR GOD TO LEAD ME IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP STEVE AND UPON OPENING ONE OF MY DEVOTIONALS FOR GUIDANCE … THIS WAS THE SCRIPTURE THAT I OPENED THE BOOK TO.
JESUS CALLED HIS DISCIPLES TO HIM AND SAID “ I ASSURE YOU,THIS POOR WIDOW HAS GIVEN MORE THAN ALL THE OTHERS HAVE GIVEN. FOR THEY GAVE A TINY PART OF THEIR SURPLUS, BUT SHE, POOR AS SHE IS, HAS GIVEN EVERYTHING SHE HAS” MARK 12:43-44
IT WAS SO CLEAR… WHEN CHRIST SAID THAT “SHE HAS GIVEN EVERYTHING SHE HAS” HE WAS SPECIFYING MORE THAN A MONETARY SACRIFICE. HE WAS DRAWING OUR ATTENTION TO THE POOR ONES LIFE SACRIFICE, THE PRACTICE OF LIVING IN COMPLETE SURRENDER AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO GOD. AND THAT IS A WHAT STEVE HAS DONE AND WISHES TO CONTINUE TO DO… ACCORDING TO HIM.. UNTIL HE GETS TO “GO BACK” TO BE WITH GOD. BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE MONETARY THINGS, IN ABUNDANCE … WE GIVE ONLY ENOUGH SO THAT WE ARE ALWAYS LEFT WITH PLENTY. MYSELF INCLUDED. I WAS SO MOVED BY THIS SCRIPTURE THAT AFTER READING THIS I SHARED IT WITH STEVE. HIS REPLY WAS MERELY GIVING GLORY TO GOD AS IF IT WAS NOT A MIRACULOUS FEAT… SIMPLY HUMBLE, TRUSTING AND FAITHFUL AS ALWAYS.
I ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW WHAT FACEBOOK WAS (WHICH WAS UNLIKELY OF COURSE SINCE HE HAS NEVER EVEN TOUCHED A CELL PHONE OR COMPUTER) BUT I WANTED HIM TO UNDERSTAND… SO I EXPLAINED IT AS A “NEWSPAPER ON YOUR PHONE” NOT JUST FOR LOCAL PEOPLE TO SEE, BUT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. I SHOWED HIM A FEW PICS AND STORIES FROM MY NEWSFEED TO BETTER EXPLAIN IT AND I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS OK WITH ME SHARING HIS STORY. HE SAID HE DIDN’T CARE BUT THAT GOD SAID NO ONE LISTENS TO A POOR MAN. (ECCLESIASTES 9) I ASSURED HIM THAT MANY WOULD READ HIS TESTIMONY AND PROMISED TO GIVE GOD ALL OF THE GLORY IN THIS. IT IS CERTAIN THAT STEVE WANTED NONE HIMSELF AND I FOR SURE WANT ONLY TO SHARE HIS TESTIMONY IN HOPES THAT THE PAST 30 YEARS OF STEVES SELFLESS LIFE WHERE HE HAS LIVED IN COMPLETE SURRENDER TO GOD…. WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
STEVE IS SO HUMBLE THAT WHEN I TOLD HIM HIS MANSION IN HEAVEN WOULD BE GLORIOUS BASED ON HIS DEVOTION TO GOD.. HE SO SOFLTY REPLIED “ I DON’T NEED MUCH…. JUST AS LONG AS I’M WITH HIM” . KNOWING HOW HE FEELS… I HONESTLY STARTED NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH A GO FUND ME ACCOUNT. ONLY BECAUSE STEVE DON’T WISH TO CHANGE HIS LIFE AND HE DOESN’T LIKE ATTENTION AND DEFINITELY WOULD NEVER ASK ANYONE FOR ANYTHING. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT HIS WISHES SO DEEPLY … I CAN’T BARE THE THOUGHT OF HIM HAVING TO SEARCH THROUGH A DUMPSTER FOR FOOD. ANY ASSISTANCE GIVEN WOULD ATLEAST ALLOW HIM THE OPTIONS OF BETTERING HIS SITUAION IF HE WISHES… BUT FOR SURE… IT WOULD GIVE HIM THE ABILITY TO BUY A WARM MEAL.
I HOPE THAT STEVES TESTIMONY AFFECTS YOUR HEART AND INFLUENCES YOUR LIFE AS MUCH AS IT DOES MINE. MAY WE NOT ONLY APPRECIATE OUR BLESSINGS THAT MUCH MORE, BUT ALSO REALIZE HOW MUCH WE TRULY HOLD BACK FROM GIVING COMPLETE TRUST TO GOD. MAY WE HAVE GREATER FAITH BECAUSE OF THE EXAMPLE STEVE IS AND THE TRUE GIFT OF SACRIFICE HE SO GRACIOUSLY DISPLAYS IN HIS QUEST TO FOLLOW GODS WILL. OH HOW I PRAY TO FIND THE JOY THAT STEVE POSESSES AND THE FAITH HE STANDS ON DAILY. PERHAPS WE WILL BE INFLUENCED NOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS AND WHAT WE MAY NOT HAVE… BUT INSTEAD FIND VALUE IN OUR TREASURES NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL WE MAY VIEW THEM.
I BELIEVE STEVES 30 YEARS(AND COUNTING) OF SEEKING GODS WILL IN COMPLETE SURRENDER IS WORTH SHARING… AND I’M 100% CERTAIN THAT HIS TESTIMONY AND FRIENDSHIP WILL FOREVER CHANGE MY LIFE. IF YOU FEEL LEAD TO DONATE... IM SURE STEVE WILL BE SO HUMBLED AND SUPRISED AT OTHERS MERCY AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP HIM THAT HE WILL SING GODS PRAISES EVEN LOUDER... AND AT THE END OF THE DAY.... THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. PRAISE BE TO HIM.... AND THANK YOU GOD... FOR THE BLESSING OF STEVE.
Organizer
Angie Smith Walker
Organizer
Texarkana, TX