The doorbell rang tonight while I was getting our boys ready for bed. It was the homeless friend I’ve known for almost 7 years. On the front porch, I learn he’s been sick in the hospital twice since Thanksgiving. He’s still recovering from his last illness.
Many people on the streets tell me what they think I want to hear. But this man has always treated me with refreshing honesty. He’s honest about all his darkest struggles, honest about wanting to stay on the streets, and open about his own self-hatred. He doesn’t like the man he’s become.
My friend is a talker 😀
Our 3-year-old comes looking for me. “Hi Mr. ________.”
The boys know this man. Our youngest asks about him when we drive. Our oldest prays for him at night.
Now dressed for bed, the boys put on slippers and played out front as I heard stories from my friend’s hospital stay. He smiled as they ran around; our 3-year-old talked to him about his shoes.
Our family has a strict policy against opening our front door when I’m not home.
You learn the importance of “boundaries” when serving the chronically homeless. We teach our boys safety. But we’ve also taught them that homeless people are just that…people, not monsters to be feared.
And so, when Daddy’s around, our boys play near this homeless man and speak to him without fear, the same way they would speak to any saintly grandmother in our church.
He asked for a shower. We walk over to Renovation Community’s gym door by our Parsonage front yard. Our boys run inside the gym and continue playing for a while. We eventually leave for bed, locking my friend inside the empty building.
At the door both boys yell, “Bye Mr. ________.” He smiles and says a quiet goodbye.
This man may not respect himself. But tonight two little pastor’s kids reminded him he is worthy of respect.
“Show proper respect to everyone…” 1 Peter 2:17
