I met a man...

Yep, I met a man today who was sitting on the bench outside the court house. He was VERY old and as I was walking by he said "Hey young lady, I have a question." I was quite startled as I was practically running to get to court. I stopped for a brief second and said said "Yes, sir?" he said "Well?" I didn't quite understand what the question was and then noticed that he looking at the bench next to him eyeing me to sit down. This was REALLY not a good time. I had been called to come down to court to deliver a much needed file for a trial. I stuttered a bit as I told the man I was heading in to court but if he had a quick question I'd be happy to answer. He hung his head, almost hurt by my answer, and simply said, "no, run along." I fed out my most sincerest apologies which even at the time didn't seem sincere enough and went along my way.... which was even faster than my hurried pace before. I made it up the courts steps, through the detectors, into the court room, and gave my files to the attorney with absolutely no time to spare. Then I breathed. :) I decided to take a walk back along the water to see if the old man was still there on the bench. As I glanced along the benches he was not there. I was a little sad but shrugged it off. 'He must have asked someone else his question' I thought. I decided to stroll along the water anyway, when I spotted him (cane and all) moving as slow as anyone could possibly move.... I trotted to catch up with him. I decided to ask him if he still had that question. But I completely startled him and he jumped and completely dropped his cane, he truly didn't hear me coming up! But he did still have a question for me, and this question I think changed the course of my entire day. He asked....
"Have you ever taken time to love strangers?" I just smiled and thought really? this is what he wanted to ask me? He didn't want to ask me how to get to court? or where the Chinese restaurant was. Or how much the Ferry Cost. He asks me this! I didn't know exactly how to respond so I just smiled waiting for him to continue. And he responded with that same "Well?" again waiting for an action from me. This time I said "well, of course sir. I guess I've loved a stranger before." As we were walking this man looked out across the water and began to tell me a story.... It goes a little something like this:
"Today, I celebrate my 63rd wedding anniversary, all because my wife took time to love a stranger. We met right here in Portsmouth. I was a navy fella back then, and Margaret a beautiful brunette. You see she loved to love strangers. She would feed food to folks that didn't have any. She gave clothes to people who couldn't afford none. but this one day she met this fella - me you see - and she told me that someone loved me. I showed up in her church every sunday for a month. and she finally went out on a date with me. then the next month I asked her to marry me. Today is our 63rd Wedding anniversary all because she loved a stranger enough to tell me about Jesus. So every year on this day I come here and tell one person about Jesus. And I picked you."
I met a man who told me about Jesus - because his wife told him first. :) And that is special. It's a great great story. And that man is a great man. I love that He's loving strangers as well. I left that old man today and I found myself wondering if his wife has gone home to be with her King in Heaven - or if maybe she was waiting at home for him. James said probably the first - because otherwise - She probably would have been along side of him... Loving strangers as well. :)