My youngest made me cry today. After running errands, we stopped at Chic-Fil-A to get lunch. He had almost finished eating when we stopped at a red light. Next to us, there stood a man holding a sign asking for money.
“Can you give him my water?” he asked.
Without hesitation, I rolled down the window and asked the man if he would like an ice-cold water. The smile on his face and excitement in his voice told me it had been a while since he had one. You would have thought I gave him something much more valuable than a $1.29 bottle of water.
The gentleman’s appreciation momentarily made me feel ashamed. I am not sure I have ever felt that level of gratitude for something as seemingly simple as a cold bottle of water. How often during the day do I grab one out of my extra refrigerator from my air-conditioned home without realizing what a luxury all of that actually is?
Overwhelmed with emotion at my child’s gesture, I started crying, telling Nathan how proud I was by what he had done.
“Mom, I just gave him a cold water,” Nathan said.
“Son, you made Jesus smile,” I replied.
Nathan didn’t stop to wonder if the man had made poor choices leading him to be standing outside on a 109-degree (with the heat index) sunny day. Nathan didn’t put himself on the judge’s bench and decide if he believed the man deserved kindness.
He saw a need and he offered help.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. (Matthew 25:35) While trying to shape my boy into a man, we try to teach and model for him what we believe to be important virtues and disciplines based on the faith our family holds. It is a beautiful day when I, as a parent, witness my own child’s faith take action and compel him to love like Jesus does.
Anytime I witness someone live Matthew 25:35, my eyes well up. Today, I had the privilege of seeing it in a beautiful soul I have the honor of calling my son.