Caring People Do Exist!!

As I was driving home from a meeting today I found myself very hungry and after scrounging through my wallet I found the grand total of $2.25. I pulled through the drive-thru at McDonalds and asked the man on the other end of the monitor how much a fish sandwich and medium fry would cost. He responded, sounding very confused, "You want to know how much it costs?!" I politely told the man that I only had $2.25 and need to know if I could afford the extravagant purchase. He told me that the meal would cost $2.17 and I drove to the first window happy that I would not again be eating left over meatloaf.

When I reached the window he had an odd and confused look on his face and he leaned out and asked me if I wanted a drink. I, surly looking as confused as he was, asked him to repeat himself. He told me that the man behind me in line had asked if I wanted a drink. I was dumbfounded. Here was some complete stranger who heard that I was poor and offered to buy me a drink.

Matthew 25:40 says, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" and that has been ringing through my mind ever since. I think God was honored tonight in that man's actions, specifically because he reminded me of a need that I have for other people and the mercy that God offers and others can also.

I find myself questioning what is the correct response in a situation like that. I turned the man down, even though my mind and body was really craving a good Coke. My pride told me that I didn't need anyone else, and that the polite thing to do would be to say no. But maybe the correct answer was to say yes. It is the more humbling and challenging response, and perhaps it was too for the man behind me. I don’t know what I should have said, but perhaps I’ll think twice before turning down a free drink again and maybe even offer one instead.