walking in his footsteps

Night approaches, the clock ticks, the hours move on and it's time to lay down and go to sleep. Turning and tossing, restlessness is evident, but finally sleep is conquered. The room is quiet, the bed is nice and toasty warm. It's natural to drift into having a dream. A man is walking down an isolated dirt road. Unfortunately, he misread his gasoline gage and it's near empty. Leaving his car,he starts to walk until he comes upon an old frame home. It looks rough,paint peeling gutters falling. This man is uncertain if anyone is living in this tired looking home. Knocking at the door several times, footsteps are finally heard indicating that someone is in this house. The door opens and there stands a man. He is tall, his hair silver grey, he is wearing a tattered blue shirt along with faded jeans. The driver of the car introduces himself adding that he is almost out of gasoline and a road sign indicates it's 8 miles to the nearest town. The homeowner confirms the the distance to the nearest town with a service station. He tells the man, he will be glad to drive him to and from town to get a can of gasoline for his car. Inviting the man, into his house, he introduces his wife. She looks so frail, with grey short hair wearing glasses sitting as she works on what is believed to be a quilt. The interior of the home is gloomy, limited furniture in the living room, curtains that are a tinge of white that may need to be replaced. The couple offers the stranger something to eat. he declines, saying that he has an appointment and will be late if he doesn't solve his gasoline problem.The men get into an old red truck, that you would wonder if it could even move. The men exchange some information about themselves. It appears that this couple receives Social Security with a small pension check. It's apparent that times have been tough for this couple and at times they are struggling to just manage to pay bills and just get by. There doesn't seem to be any bitterness or resentment as this elderly gentleman talks. With so little, he and his wife showed warmth and compassion for a stranger. As they were entering town and the gasoline station, the younger man offers some money to the elderly man for his time and help. As much as this elderly man could use the money he declined. His words,"I, may not have much, but what I have is time and driving to town and back, is my gift to you as Jesus would want me to help a stranger in need". It was apparent by the younger man that this man and his wife had alot,they had each other, care, compassion, a willingness to help someone without any expectations, except a handshake and "Thank You". Isn't this dream comforting? We don't have to have things, money to help someone. The riches we have are the inner spirit that gives us happiness that we are reaching out and to help someone in need with no ulterior motives. Jesus teaches us to help one another.