"
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...
