Dear Jesus, I Thought I Saw You Today
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008
by Susan Thom
Fictional article
Dear Jesus, I was walking to the post office, and I saw a man lying across someone's front porch steps. He seemed to be asleep, with black wool gloves, fingers exposed, an old black hat and a tattered coat. I would have gone to him and helped him, but I had no money, and no way to ease his pain. I realized it was an Earthly man, and when he looked up at me, I saw you in his eyes. I said a prayer that he would be okay.
I drove to get gas and I thought I saw you again. There was a young man in his thirties maybe, and he was disheveled and seemed incoherent, and lost. I imagined he was either on drugs, or in need of some. There was nothing I could do for him, but again, I saw you in his eyes. I said a prayer for him that he could get himself back on his feet. Both sightings were unnerving, because I really thought they were you. I had begun to get excited to meet you face to face, but as I drove to the grocery store, I realized, of course, they were a part of you, and you of them.
Still a little dazed, I saw a man ringing a bell next to a big black cauldron, and he had a Santa's hat on. This time, I knew it was you from the images I've always kept in my head. I was embarrassed I had no money to put in your container, but I smiled and wished you a happy holidays. When you looked in my eyes, they were blank, like you had been cast aside and your spirit had been broken. Before I could reach out to you, I again, realized this was a human man, and again, I saw you in his eyes. Through those eyes, I saw his kindness, and I said a prayer for him.
I stopped to get gas and saw a man rummaging through the garbage of the restaurant next door. I didn't want to fool myself again, nor get my hopes up, but he looked just like what I've pictured of you. He looked up at me for a second, as if I could be of help, and I saw you in his eyes. There was nothing again I could do for him, but I said a prayer. These men were all suffering in their own ways, for their own reasons, and I couldn't help them. I didn't even have any loose change to give each of them, and I felt so bad, and disheartened.
On my way back home, I saw a woman walking without a coat or hat, and 2 bags of groceries in her hands. I stopped and asked if she needed a ride. She refused, and after asking again, I continued on home, but I swear, when she looked at me, I saw you in her eyes. I said a prayer for her. As I drove up the hill, I noticed a car on the side of the road. I don't know how it was even legal, there was no front headlight, and rust had eaten away most of it, and the convertible top had huge rips in it.
I stopped and asked the man if I could be of any help. As he looked up at me, he smiled softly, and thanked me. I know I saw you in his eyes. He said he was almost done fixing the flat tire, but he appreciated me stopping. I left him there, and said a prayer for him. And then I thanked you for all you have given to me. I've been out of sorts for these past two years, and without a car or enough money, and living on the bare essentials, and I was angry and tired and definitely depressed. But I have a coat and a hat and my son's car if I need it, and food, and a home, and my sanity, and yet, I forgot to thank you.
Please forgive me, I've only been thinking about myself. I hope my prayers helped those who have so much less. I didn't feel like doing those chores today. I begrudgingly went on my way, and when I was done, I was grateful and happy and enlightened. I heard an ambulance go by, and as always, I prayed for those who needed their help. I thought to myself, "That could be you, but it's not, be grateful." And I am. I'm sorry I don't always remember to tell you so. My heart is in the right place, sometimes my mind just gets filled with so much other "stuff." As I was driving up my street, a car blew their horn behind me. It was a neighbor just saying hi, but when I looked in my rear view mirror, I saw you in my eyes.
Still a little dazed, I saw a man ringing a bell next to a big black cauldron, and he had a Santa's hat on. This time, I knew it was you from the images I've always kept in my head. I was embarrassed I had no money to put in your container, but I smiled and wished you a happy holidays. When you looked in my eyes, they were blank, like you had been cast aside and your spirit had been broken. Before I could reach out to you, I again, realized this was a human man, and again, I saw you in his eyes. Through those eyes, I saw his kindness, and I said a prayer for him.
I stopped to get gas and saw a man rummaging through the garbage of the restaurant next door. I didn't want to fool myself again, nor get my hopes up, but he looked just like what I've pictured of you. He looked up at me for a second, as if I could be of help, and I saw you in his eyes. There was nothing again I could do for him, but I said a prayer. These men were all suffering in their own ways, for their own reasons, and I couldn't help them. I didn't even have any loose change to give each of them, and I felt so bad, and disheartened.
On my way back home, I saw a woman walking without a coat or hat, and 2 bags of groceries in her hands. I stopped and asked if she needed a ride. She refused, and after asking again, I continued on home, but I swear, when she looked at me, I saw you in her eyes. I said a prayer for her. As I drove up the hill, I noticed a car on the side of the road. I don't know how it was even legal, there was no front headlight, and rust had eaten away most of it, and the convertible top had huge rips in it.
I stopped and asked the man if I could be of any help. As he looked up at me, he smiled softly, and thanked me. I know I saw you in his eyes. He said he was almost done fixing the flat tire, but he appreciated me stopping. I left him there, and said a prayer for him. And then I thanked you for all you have given to me. I've been out of sorts for these past two years, and without a car or enough money, and living on the bare essentials, and I was angry and tired and definitely depressed. But I have a coat and a hat and my son's car if I need it, and food, and a home, and my sanity, and yet, I forgot to thank you.
Please forgive me, I've only been thinking about myself. I hope my prayers helped those who have so much less. I didn't feel like doing those chores today. I begrudgingly went on my way, and when I was done, I was grateful and happy and enlightened. I heard an ambulance go by, and as always, I prayed for those who needed their help. I thought to myself, "That could be you, but it's not, be grateful." And I am. I'm sorry I don't always remember to tell you so. My heart is in the right place, sometimes my mind just gets filled with so much other "stuff." As I was driving up my street, a car blew their horn behind me. It was a neighbor just saying hi, but when I looked in my rear view mirror, I saw you in my eyes.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Nicely done. I think our hearts are always in the right place, and yet there are always those 'other things' which get in the way and distract us from the good within. Well done.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi michael,thank you for reading and responding.i think we do see the soul of people in their eyes, and i think that's where Jesus lies.we are all members of the same family,if we could all just understand that,my best regards to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
A very good article Susan, it delivers a special message for the day, "Thanksgiving Day" that isPlease log in to respond to this comment.
hi david,thank you for reading and responding,when we think we have it bad, we mustremember that there are others who have it so much worse.my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
A very touching piece. One worth reading again and again. Thanks for sharing this with us.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi david,thank you for reading and responding.as you have said, sometimes, things just come into your head,and your fingers start typing.such was the case with this article.my besr regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Susan,A nice rememberance for all that we have and what others may lack. Thanks.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi james,thank you,that's what i was thinking when i wrote this article.we tend to think of the cut on our finger, when others dont't have a home.my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Susan, I echo the glowing comments of those above me. Thank you for this beautiful story filled with Truths. Warm regards, Avis.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi avis,thank you for reading and responding,this was one of those articles where myfingers just did the walking :)my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Dear Sue, You make us all think again. If we realize where we have not paid enough attention to those around us, it is good that you wrote this. Thank you for writing it! God bless you, and I hope you have a good weekend. ~JanePlease log in to respond to this comment.hi jane,thanks for reading and responding.only thing is, i don't think i actually wrote it.....i asked God over 2 years ago to let me speak his words through my writing, and to let me help as many people as i could. the words of this article came pouring out faster than i could type. but i do believe I am an instrument, so thank you.a good weekend to you as well,my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Susan,Wow! What a wonderful article! I think many of us have seen Jesus in the eyes of strangers. I believe that He is indeed in the there and our prayers acknowledge His presence. Bless you and may we always see Him in all things.Blessings,StarPlease log in to respond to this comment.hi star,thanks for stopping by.our world seems so broken, and yet, in the simplicity of life, Jesus shows himself,thanks for reading and commenting,my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
One of my favorites that brought tears to the eyes. Thank you.
Coddie AdwarPlease log in to respond to this comment.hi coddie,thanks so much for reading and responding.talk about God's hands guiding me.my fingers couldn't keep up while typingthe thoughts in this article. i'm glad you feltsomething from reading it.my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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