And because of their budget, eating out was only on Sunday after church. Church was also a big part of their life. It was a part of their life that was just that – a part of their life. Early in their marriage they gone to the Baptist church that their families had grown up in. But after a short term mission trip to Haiti that Joseph and Sarah had gone on, they were never the same. The sponsoring church was an Assemblies of God church and after the trip they started attending, and their faith came alive. Biblical concepts and doctrines gave way to, quite simply, “the love of God.”
On their trip to Haiti they had seen such poverty and suffering. And they were both amazed by the similarities between New Orleans and Haiti. But it was one incident that they never forgot and would guide them in their faith. They had been in the outskirts of Port Au Prince, the capital and were doing a drama and music special that conveyed the gospel. At first, many of the people were frightened because they were using masks in the drama and many of the local witch doctors used masks to instill fear to gain favor from the people. In the same way in America that religious people use fear and pride to gain favor – and finances. When they had finished the drama, which was about a child who had prayed to receive food and was blessed by an angel from God, people were visibly touched by the presentation. Sarah’s dancing had been so beautiful and graceful; it just touched the people’s hearts.
After the presentation the team would always have food to hand out to the people; dry beans, rice, and whatever other staples would be available. But on this day the event was very well attended. In fact the team was trying to leave because their food supplies were being exhausted and they did not want to disappoint the people. As they had loaded everything into the van, a small frail lady with 3 small children had walked up. They were all very thin and weak and looked like it had been some time since they had a decent meal. She began speaking in Creole. Sarah kind of knew what she was asking for linguistically, but instinctively and maternally she knew what the lady needed –food – food for her children. All their food had been given away, but as Sarah looked at Joseph –they knew- as a husband and wife need no words to communicate, they knew. Joseph mind raced back to a song he had heard in the seventies...
I hear the cries of children at night
I watch their faces grow sallow with hunger
Who draws the line between what's wrong and right
And when I ask what my life is for
It's all been for nothing
They quickly hatched a plan. Sarah would stay with the lady while Joseph walked a few paces to the outdoor market to get something for this hungry family. It was a bit ironic as Sarah was still in her angel costume. As Joseph approached the outdoor market, he had to fan away flies to find the meat that wasn’t spoiled and try to find the best fruits and vegetables along with some rice and beans. When Joseph returned he had put the groceries in a bag and tried to make their gift as discreet as possible, knowing that if some lesser elements of the city saw her food, it would be stolen. As they huddled behind the van and let her know the food was for her and her children, Joseph offered up a quick prayer. As he was praying Sarah noticed the faces of the children looking intently at her. They saw her as “their” angel and Sarah wanted them to know that their blessing was truly from God.
As Joseph finished praying, all five of them began crying. The cries turned into smiles and as they left the woman and her children, Joseph and Sarah knew that they had witnessed God’s love.
“Whenever you have done this for the least of these, you have done it unto me.”
~*~
Usually after church they all agreed either Mandina’s or Ye Olde College Inn would be their favorite place. Both were the epitome of the finest and most typical New Orleans restaurants, with Po Boys, Fried Seafood and the best Bread Pudding in the world. Fast food during the week was not an option. But they never went without. They always had a hot meal and all the things they needed as a family. It was just the extras that there was little room for. Like extra shoes. And Paul knew it. When he asked his mom about doing extra jobs around the house to earn money, Sarah told him matter of factly, “Paul, these aren’t extra jobs these are just your regular chores. This is what is expected of you as the oldest in this family.”
Whoa! Sometimes the truth can be just so heavy! But as soon as he would start thinking about those shoes his enthusiasm would raise up. He started thinking about jobs in the neighborhood he could do, mowing grass, cleaning yards, washing cars, picking up sticks! He was determined to do whatever job he could find to make money. Monday after school, he went door to door asking neighbors for chores he could do to make some money. Monday – nothing, Tuesday-nothing, Wednesday –nothing, Thursday-nothing, Now that was pretty frustrating, but even more frustrating was the fact that on Saturday, the whole family was going to the flea market in the French Quarter.
It was a family ritual. And one of the stores that Paul knew was on the edge of the Quarter next to the flea market was Mr. Thad’s Shoe Store. Yep, that’s where he had found out Aunt Myrtle had gotten Peter his pair. And Paul knew that if he could save up most of the money, maybe, just maybe his parents might help. Friday morning started real drearily. It was raining and school was, well it was boring! Paul had given up on the idea of finding any work on a rainy day. It was just that Paul had his mind on those shoes! He could just see himself in his mind’s eye running and splashing down through the puddles as all the kids (and Diane) watched him.
His classes came and went with nothing exciting to take his mind off those shoes! In the afternoon the clouds burst open and he just KNEW there would be no jobs available for him to do after school. But as school was ending and he was heading for the bus to take him home, a miracle happened! Mrs. Elliot the science teacher called out to Paul just as he was about to get on his bus.
“Paul! Paul! Wait!”
As she ran over to him, Paul had no idea what she might want.
“Paul!” Mrs. Elliot exclaimed, “My mother Eunice, lives on Garden Street right by your house, and she had a nasty fall this week and can’t get around too well. I was wondering if you could go over after school and help her get her garbage together for the garbage man to pick up on Monday. Mr. Williams Great Dane, Hercules got out and spread her garbage all through her back yard and he also got into the garage and got some of those bags she is saving for –whatever. If you could pick it up for her and put it into some new bags and bring it to the street, I know she would pay you real well.”
It was like the fourth of July, Christmas, and New Years eve all at once going off in Paul’s head!
“Oh yes Ma’am, yes Ma’am, I’ll go over as soon as I get home. I’d be glad to help her!”
“Aww, you’re such a sweet boy. I’ll call her and tell her you’ll be over after school.”
That was the longest bus ride Paul had ever taken. But the whole trip, all he could see was a vision of him walking right into Mr. Thad’s Shoe store and walking out with those shoes!
Finally, the bus turned down his street. The rain had slacked off a little bit, but it was still coming down pretty heavy. As he burst into the kitchen he didn’t stop to get a snack, but went right to his mom in the living room and announced, “Mom! Mom! Mrs. Elliot at school wants me to go over and help her mom; she got hurt this week and can’t put her garbage out.”
Sarah knew Miss Eunice and the house on Garden Street well. Last summer Paul had mowed the yard several times. And Sarah also had a soft spot in her heart for Miss Eunice. And she knew Eunice was getting up in age and needed help.
One day a couple of months ago she had seen Eunice wandering down the street looking very lost and disoriented. When she approached Eunice she had tried to explain to Sarah that she was just taking a walk. But Sarah could tell that she was quite confused and it worried her that she was living alone. She could also see from the gleam in Paul’s eye, that he was thinking about being able to buy those shoes.
“Paul, you can go, but you’re stil
l going to have to wait to get those shoes.”
“But, Mom!” Paul protested.
His mother said, “Your Aunt Barbara said those shoes cost thirty five dollars and I doubt Miss Eunice is going to pay you thirty five dollars to take out her garbage.”
“But Mom, I have fourteen dollars saved from my lawn mowing money and you and dad said I could use it for something I wanted, and I want those shoes!”
“Well Paul, don’t get your hopes up too much. You may have to save for several weeks, but the shoes will still be there. You have to be patient,” Sarah said in her most motherly voice.
“All right mom, I’ll be back as soon as I finish.”
As Paul bolted out the front door, stinging drops of rain peppered his face. It was a good feeling. He ran all the way to the house on Garden Street. And as soon as he got there, he knocked, no answer, so he knocked again. Again, there was no answer. So, he knocked harder. Still, no answer. A sinking feeling began to drop down in Paul’s belly.
“Miss Eunice its Paul. I’m here to clean up your garbage!!!”
He knocked harder, she HAD to be here. For goodness sakes she’s hurt, she can’t go anywhere! He knocked even harder, “MISS EUNICE IT’S PAUL AND I’M HERE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR TRASH!!!!!!!”
“I’m coming, hold your horses. Just wait a second.”
As the door opened, Paul could see that Miss Eunice had just woke up from a nap. Her walker was poised in the doorway and she leaned on it with her full weight. Miss Eunice was a sweet lady but time was quickly running out for her. In her younger life she was a clerk and the Five & Dime in town. She had met her husband Dan in high school and married in his first year in college. He was studying business and went on to be a lifelong life insurance salesman for Great Southern Life. His first few years in business were fairly productive, but as he became used to renewals and got very comfortable just working office hours, taking calls and handling claims and he never achieved the success he could have. They were just regular folks.
They never had the large family she had always wanted and it was always a sore spot for Eunice, but Dan could care less. Sitting in front of the television drinking an occasional beer was his big motivation in life. Eunice’s family didn’t care much for Dan and considered him a dud. And because of his lack of attention to details he had withdrawn some of his principle on his life policy for him and Eunice to take the trip of a lifetime to France, which had turned out to be miserable. Eunice was sick the whole time and all Dan wanted to do was to eat in the most expensive restaurants. As the years went by, Dan missed some timely payments and as a result when he died of cancer 12 years earlier, she inherited a small settlement that allowed her to get by on $1130.00 a month. But it could have been so much more.
Despite the “dullness” of her husband she had NEVER gotten used to him not being there with her. Hers was the plight of many a senior citizen. The world belongs to the young, the fast and the powerful. Regardless of her value as a human being –in society’s eyes she was just another old lady.
A lone strand of gray hair had sunk down over her right eye. For a few seconds her eyes didn’t focus and she wondered who this young stranger was. But as she woke more and stared at the smiling face gazing at her, she remembered her daughter’s phone call.
“Hi, Paul. Thank you for coming to help me. Look, there are some bags over on the carport and if you would please just put all that garbage in those bags and bring them to the street. And please be careful with all the valuables in the garage that Hercules got into. I’ll be busy making you a snack.”
And she smiled a granny type smile as she turned away. A Snack! That sinking feeling came back. A Snack! But he needed cash! Paul figured if she gave him ten dollars, surely his mom and dad would help out so he could get those shoes! And if she gave him fifteen dollars wow! He would be really close. But if she gave him twenty dollars! Whoa! Those shoes would be his. As he made his way to the backyard he was not prepared for what he saw. Garbage cans turned over, bags torn into, and trash from one end of the yard to the other and it looked and smelled like it had been there for several days. And to top it off, Miss Eunice was somewhat of a hoarder and not only was the garbage spread through the yard, but the bags of useless junk, the valuables gathered from garage sales and thrift stores, littered the lawn.
He thought to himself, “Yeah, it’s nasty, yeah it’s stinky, and it’s going to be real hard to pick this up in the rain, but this is at least a twenty dollar job! At least twenty dollars! His apprehension was replaced with enthusiasm as he opened the plastic garbage bag and went to work. At first, he just picked up the paper and plastic stuff. But he realized, he was going to have to pick up the old food stuff too. He found a half eaten old chicken carcass, and as he lifted it up to put in the bag, several families of maggots fell to the ground all over his feet.
“Ugh! Gross!”
There was a real bad stink all over the yard. There were some old beans that had a fuzzy gray mold all over the top. There was also some old bread and muffins that had a bluish mold over them. As he reached to pick up a pile of old chicken fat, he almost gagged! Could anything be so bad? It took an hour and forty minutes to finish the job, but it was done! And as Paul walked to the door, it took several knocks again to get Eunice’s attention. She came to the door with an envelope and a bag with a silver string tied around it.
“Don’t you want to come in and wash up after such a smelly job?”
Well really he did, but he also wanted run home as fast as he could to open the envelope.
“Uh, no ma’am. I’ve got a lot of homework tonight (Liar! It was Friday night!), and my mom wants me to help my brother clean the garage (Liar, again!).”
He didn’t really care about the bag. It was probably homemade cookies, or fruitcake cookies. It really didn’t matter, it could have been loaded with Snickers bars, but it wasn’t important. It was the money for those shoes! He thanked Miss Eunice and took off like an atomic missile. As he ran off down the street as she pulled her walker out of the door and closed it and went back to her world, a world of isolation loneliness and reruns of the Andy Griffin show.
As soon as he walked in the door, Sarah gave the order.
“Get cleaned up! All of you! Your father will be home in five minutes and we’re going to eat.”
Well, as he washed his hands Paul debated about opening the envelope. In a way he wanted to wait until after supper, but he just couldn’t. He tore open the envelope like a starving man searching for a crumb. He opened it…. and, yes! He could see green! As he pulled it out he saw more green, and as he pulled it out all the way he saw it! His heart sank. His world crashed. Five dollars! Five measly Dollars!
Combined with his fourteen he had a grand total of nineteen dollars. That wasn’t going to get it! There was no way his parents could spring an extra sixteen dollars on him. He went to supper and didn’t say or eat much. Joseph and Sarah and the rest of the kids noticed it. He looked like the Saints had lost the Super Bowl. It was bad enough, but five year old Aaron kept repeating, “Paul and Diane sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G, first comes love, then comes marriage, here comes Paul with a baby carriage!”
“No!” Chimed in Noah, “Here comes Paul with his brand new shoes! The whole table burst out laughing, except Paul. Joseph and Sarah looked at each other. They both knew without saying a word how much Paul wanted those shoes. It was almost like a moment from the old Waltons T.V. show the family gathered around the table, laughing, living, and loving. But Joseph and Sarah knew without saying a word, that their mortgage was due. And the fact that Joseph didn’t get a performance bonus this quarter broke their hearts also.
That night as they tucked the children into bed, Joseph and Sarah spent a few extra moments with Paul.
“Paul if you have to save for a few more weeks, it’ll be alright. We just can’t help you now. But be patient, one day, you will have those shoes.”
But Paul couldn’t sleep. He tried to, but all he c
ould see was him rescuing cats from trees, saving people from burning buildings, rescuing Diane from, well, anything. He even prayed about it, “Dear God, help me get those shoes!!!!”
He was finally starting to get sleepy and he was staring at a poster his grandmother had given him. It was Spider-Man swinging through the air rescuing someone. And right as he was about to drift off his eye was drawn to a picture he had been given in vacation bible school last summer. It was a picture of Jesus giving bread to some children.
It was not your ordinary Jesus picture. The children were dirty and barefooted. They looked like they were poor and hungry. A few had real looks of pain on their face as they were running towards the others. They were in the middle of a dusty street and there were rocks and what looked like scrub brush all around. And even Jesus didn’t look like an ordinary picture of what Jesus was supposed to look like. It was almost like his back was turned and you couldn’t see his whole face. But what you could see of his face didn’t look like the neat polished images you often see in churches.
Many pictures of Jesus have him with blonde hair and a big toothy smile, kind of like Brad Pitt with lots of joy. But in this picture he was kind of ordinary looking and plain and not really attractive. And the children who had received the bread and had touched his hand, their faces and countenance looked transformed. And at the bottom of the picture was this wording, “Whenever you have done this for the least of these, you have done it unto me.”