“What size do you wear?” Tim asked. “I’m happy to get you a fresh set of clothes.”

            Chester eyed him. “Why are you helping me? Why now, after all this time? I’ve seen you walk past me – even moving to the other side of the street to ignore me.”

            Tim couldn’t meet Chester’s gaze. “I’m sorry. That was wrong of me. I guess I thought maybe you deserved to be here, or were dangerous… I don’t know. When I heard you talking to Harry, it showed me you were a person too.”

            “Not all homeless people are mentally unstable or addicts,” Chester said.

            “I realize that now. Do you want to get something to eat?” Tim gestured to the fast-food restaurant down the block.”
            “If you’re buying.” Chester clambered to his feet and hefted his oversize backpack.

            Tim frowned. “Do you have to bring that with you?”

            Chester raised his eyebrows. “Would you leave everything you owned in the world lying on the sidewalk?”

            “No, I suppose not.” The two men crossed the street and entered the restaurant. After placing their orders, they settled at a table away from the other patrons. Tim waited until Chester had finished his meal before asking any questions.

            Chester wiped his mouth with a napkin and met Tim’s eye. “So, you’re wondering how a non-drug addict, mentally stable person ended up in my situation.”
            Tim shrugged. “Well, yes, actually.”

            “It’s not a pretty story.”

            “I didn’t expect it would be.”

            Chester drained his coffee cup and set it on the tray. He leaned back against the booth and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. When he reopened them, he stared off in the distance, not looking at Tim. “I never knew my dad. My mom, well, she wasn’t much of a parent either. My little sister and I ended up in foster care.” Chester’s eyes flickered to Tim’s, and then he continued. “The first family we went to was OK, but then they had a baby of their own and couldn’t handle a newborn plus the two of us. They wanted to keep Tricia, but there was no way I’d allow the system to split us up. I’d taken care of Tricia her whole life.

            We moved to another family, but the dad started getting a little too interested in Tricia.  We got out of there in time, fortunately. Then I turned 18 and aged out of the system. I got a job and stayed with a couple of buddies, but visited Tricia every day. When she turned 18, we got our own place. We both worked hard. Neither of us made much, but we did OK. We were saving up for Tricia to go to college. She wanted to be a nurse.”
            “What about you?” Tim asked. “Did you ever want to go to college?”
            Chester waved a hand. “No, I like working with my hands. I’m a pretty good mechanic, if I do say so myself. I worked on cars for years.”
            “So what happened?” Tim asked.

            Chester’s eyes clouded. “Tricia got sick. Some kind of leukemia. We didn’t have health insurance. We spent everything we had on medical bills and lost our apartment.”
            “That’s awful,” Tim said. “Did Tricia…” He couldn’t finish the question.

            Chester shook his head. “She didn’t make it. But I know she’s in heaven. There was this one nurse, Betsy. She came into Tricia’s room every night after her shift ended and told Tricia and me all about Jesus.” Chester swiped at the moisture in his eyes. “Now I know my baby sister is healed and is in Jesus’ arms. He takes good care of us.”

            Tim blinked. “You grew up without parents, in an abusive foster home, your sister died, and you’re broke and living on the streets. How can you say Jesus is taking care of you?”
            Chester’s face was kind. “We didn’t grow up in an abusive home. We got out of the one home before the dad ever touched Tricia. We always had each other and knew, no matter what, we’d have each other’s back. Jesus made sure Tricia knew about Him before she passed away. And even though we couldn’t afford it, she had good medical care and was comfortable. And yes, I’m living on the streets, but thanks to Harry, I’ve had food every day. Shoot, Jesus even sent you to buy me dinner tonight.”

            Tim’s eyes grew moist. He had everything Chester didn’t have. A high-paying job, a beautiful home, a loving family. And how often did he think about Jesus? Chester had nothing, and here he was, ministering to Tim. He had to do what he could to help this man. He cleared his throat. “I have some good news for you, Chester. My wife’s brother owns a garage a few miles from here. He happens to be looking for a mechanic. I think we might be able to get you back on your feet.”

            Chester grinned. “God bless you.”
            “He has,” Tim said. “He sent me you.”

1 John 3:17

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Lord God, thank You for giving us the ability to bless one another. It truly is a blessing to be able to give to those in need. Help us to keep our eyes open to the opportunities You put in our path to minister to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.