DOES GOD LOVE LITTLE OL CRITTERS

Every week we venture down to the park on Sundays, to feed and see our friends without homes. I have a wonderful time with these beautiful people, but three or four weeks ago, I started stopping at the overpass on my way back home. Underneath the overpass is the local skateboard park, as well as home to some of my friends who live outside. I would drive by during the day and see many hanging around and at night you see many who sleep outside, rain, snow, and no matter what he temperature is they are there, camped for the night. There is no camping with in city limits, so it amazes me that the police don’t ticket them or run them off.

On my first visit down there, I met Pops, who I instantly fell in love with. Pops looks like he maybe in his late sixties or seventies it is hard to tell. He stands no more than about five foot five, gray long hair and beard to match. You can’t miss the bright orange beanie he wears and this small frail man disappears in his large winter army coat, it probably weighs more than he does. Pops is usual three sheets to the wind, but when he talks to you, his eyes light up (even though he looks as if he is blind in one eye) and he has the most wonderful smile.

This past Sunday, Pops showed up again. This time I was able to spend a little time talking to him. Pops asked why I come down to see them, no one else bothers with them he said and wanted to know if I was afraid to come down there. I told him that I love to visit with everyone down there and why would I be afraid to go somewhere that God has asked me to go? He looked at me a little perplexed and then asked me to look around and tell him what I see. I said I see downtown, traffic, people and everything else you might see standing under the overpass, I was not sure what he was getting at. Then he said, I see the snow covered mountains that God created, I see the rebirth of grass that died in the cold snow; I see the blue sky that God made for us today. He turned to me and said, I see God in everything around me, and most people are too busy to see him in the small stuff. I was floored and I admit I wanted to cry, because yes, I to get to busy at times to see him in the small stuff.

Pops then looked at me and said that he loves God, but wanted to know if I thought God could love a little OL critter like him? Do you think he thinks of me? Do you think I can do anything for him while on the streets? Do you think when he opens that book and takes a look at my life; will I have anything to show for it? Will he open his arms, welcome me and love me?

With tears in my eyes, I put my arms around Pops and held him tight. I then looked him in the eyes, those beautiful sky blue eyes he has. I told him that God knows he loves him. I know that God thinks of him always and when he does he smiles from ear to ear, you bring great joy to God’s heart. He smiles because he is proud to say this one belongs to him. When you meet him one day, he will welcome you with open arms, ask you to turn and see all the lives you have touched and I told Pops there will be many, many people standing there. I know because you have touched and changed my life just by knowing you and I know there are many more you have touched as well. Tears began to well up in his eyes; he said he needed to go. I put my arms around him, hugged him and told him I loved him. He said he would see me next week and he walked off.

So to answer you question Pops, “YES, GOD DOES LOVE LITTLE OL CRITTERS” and he loves you more than you can ever comprehend.