You Reap What You Sow

"Good morning” said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was

new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.


His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others

had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....


To his amazement, the woman continued standing.


She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you

hungry?" she asked.


"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president.

Now go away."


The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under

his arm.


"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.


Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..


"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man

to his feet. Will you help me?"


The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around

here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"


"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to

eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."


"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!"

Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go,

officer. I didn't do anything."


" This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.."


Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack

into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle

of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch

bunch had not yet arrived...


The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on

here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"


"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.


"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is

bad for business.."


Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let

me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."


The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled....... "Sir, are you

familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"


"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly

meetings in one of my banquet rooms."


"And do you make a godly amount of money providing food at these weekly

meetings?"


"What business is that of yours?"


I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."


"Oh."


The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at

the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of

coffee and a meal, officer?"


"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."


"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, maam. That would be very nice."


The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right

away, officer."


The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he

said.


"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."


She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him

intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"


Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you

do look familiar."


"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in

my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold

and hungry."


"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a

magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.


"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking

for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents

and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was

February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on

the off chance that I could get something to eat."


Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving

counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said

that it was against company policy."


"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich

that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a

corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then,

when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I

knew then that everything would be all right."


"So you started your own business" said the old man.


"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my

own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and

pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a

visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk

to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the

office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little

advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get

on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."


There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank God...... He

led me to you."


Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before

going their separate ways....


"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.


"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today,

something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee."


God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..
Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...