Two weeks ago during our Thursday morning breakfast, my husband Jason and Paula’s husband Andy decided to go in search of people who needed a meal a few blocks from where we were serving. They split up and were each covering different parts of the area. Jason felt an urgency to go a few extra blocks than he had originally planned and that is when God introduced him to Benjamin. Benjamin had his head and shoulders in a trash can digging for food when Jason met him and told him we were serving a hot breakfast in the park. His eyes lit up and he eagerly followed. Jason said that he had never seen anyone’s eyes light up like Benjamin’s did at the mention of breakfast.

When I met Benjamin my heart immediately went out to him. One side of his body is twisted and his hands are gnarled with rheumatoid arthritis. He walks with a shuflle and his whole body leans to one side as he moves. On his way to breakfast he dug through the trash again to find a cup for the coffee he had heard about, not realizing we had cups to give him. As he sat down to eat he was so thankful and appreciative of the food and very eager to talk and share his story.

This week we found Benjamin again, this time just a short distance from where we were serving. I immediately recognized his shape from behind and called out to him by name. He came towards us with a big smile and said he had forgotten it was Thursday. As I sat with him  and helped to fix his coffee, Benjamin looked at me and said “I wish I had something I could give to you.” Right then and there God opened the door to talk about the reason for Grace’s Kitchen. I explained to Ben that although God didn’t have to do anything for me, He still did. I don’t deserve love, mercy and forgiveness, yet He gives it freely to me. And it’s only because of what He does that I am able to give to Benjamin. That’s what grace is all about. It is God’s unmerited favor showered upon undeserving, sinful people. Just because He loves us.

Living for Christ is radically different than living from this world. It requires being stripped completely of ourselves, our comforts, our pursuits and our desires so that God can be glorified. I believe if Jesus lived on earth today He would spend time with the Benjamins, the throwaways, the outcasts and those society would rather forget exist. And I believe He would do it because He genuinely loves all people.

I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with Benjamin and the others I have met through Grace’s Kitchen. I am learning so much about who God is by hearing His heart for the poor and I am thankful He has pulled me from my comfort zone long enough to listen.

- Lisa