Lovely day in the Park

We were blessed once again to have some really great folks from True North Church, as well as some of the nursing students come down today. First of the month and it is typically smaller amounts of people showing up, but I am always reminded that those that are suppose to be there are there. Got to love on some really awesome people. Was a special day for me, with the extra help I was able to connect with some of the guys and sit and have a good chat with them, something I have not been able to do in awhile. Plenty of food left over so we hauled it down to the underpass. I was excited about going down. I haven't been down in awhile and even though I knew some of the folk there, there are many new faces on the streets and it was great to get to know them as well. There were a few things that stuck out to me today and something's that really pulled at my heart. Pastor Jason from True North as been to the underpass before talking to the guys there and he told me about a young man Miguel who told Jason that he would have his back and no one would mess with him. Well after everyone left, I stayed awhile longer talking to Pat, he was pouring his heart out and crying when Miguel came up. Miguel looked at me and asked what is going on. Pat stopped him right there and proceeded to tell him who I was and what I was doing there, explaining that we go back since the beginning of when I started going to the park. Miguel looked me up and down and held out his hand to shake, we shook and in his world things were alright. He accepted me and I understand were he is coming from. He is the self appointed protector, the folks on the streets are his family and no one messes with family. He asked about Jason. I realized Jason also has been accepted into a community that not all are welcome in. Pastor Jason's church will soon embark on starting their own picnic in the park for our friends outside and their going to be great. Our friends outside are going to be in good hands. Mike and Kirsten have been coming down the last few weeks, with their teenage kids and this is a family you just fall in love with. Such beautiful loving people and hearts as big as they get. I had wondered from time to time how their kids liked coming down to the park, not every teenage kid would give up part of his or her weekend to spend time with those on the streets. As I was standing near their son, I looked over and asked how he was doing, he turned looked strait in the eyes and with the biggest smile on his face said "This is the highlight of my week." I asked him how old he was and he said in a few months he will be eighteen. In a brief moment I saw my son in this young man. My son was a few months away from his eighteenth birthday when he passed away, my son had so much love and compassion for people and so much wanted to make a difference in the lives of those who may not have. That is what I saw in the heart of this young man. So I came home cried a little...was missing my son, but rejoiced in the fact that one day we will see each other again, I pictured him smiling down on us saying "Give them a hug for me too." So we go down to love on our friends who live outside, hoping in some small way we can make a difference in the lives of those whom others have forgotten, hoping the Lord will touch their hearts and some days we walk away being the ones touched. Give someone a big hug and let them know you love them....the chance to do so many not come a second time. Love you All