OK, this is just wow....
I was called to the hospital to visit one of our (kinda sorta) members who was in the ER for congestive heart failure. As I was approaching the hospital, the family texted me and said things were much better, under control, he's still in ER, but no hurry.
I parked my car, and - because this hospital is doing a lot of construction - had to park in a different lot than the ER lot.
As I was walking from the lot where I parked to the ER lot, there was a rather large older African-American lady standing at the top of the 6-step stairs that goes from the lot I was in down to the ER lot. She was hanging onto the railing with her left hand, and her folded-up walker with her right hand, and appeared to be hanging on for dear life. Some other ladies were with her, but they appeared to be even older, and somewhat frail.
As I approached her (I never want to insult somebody who appears handicapped, but wants to be independent) I asked her "could you use some help, or are you better doing this on your own". At first, she didn't answer, and neither did the ladies with her. I was about to back away when she said, "maybe I should use some help".
I made sure she has a grip on the railing, then gave her my arm, and took the folded-up walker and handed it to her friends. I told her to hang onto me for her right side, and hold onto the railing with her left side, and we began working her down the stairs, one step at a time.. first right foot down on a step, pause, left foot on that step.... after about 3 steps, she seemed worn out, and I told her "no hurry - we have all night, you're doing great....." She took a breath and started again.
It took about 15 minutes total, I'd guess, and during that time, I noticed a doctor had come out of the ER and was standing there watching. I guess he thought we had things under control, because he appeared ready to step in, but maybe didn't want to disrupt the progress.
When she finally got down to the sidewalk, and we gave her walker back to her, she told me 'thank you', and hugged me for more than just "a quick hug", and thanked me again. Sure, it warms your heart.
Then the doctor, having noticed the Church logo on my shirt, asked "are you the pastor of that church"? I said, "yes sir". He asked, "did you know that lady?" I said, "no, sir, never saw her before". He reached in his pocket, and said "I just wrote out a tithe check, but I don't have a church yet, and I work every Sunday. The name of the Church is not filled out, but otherwise, the check is complete. Would you please put this in your church's offering plate?" I tried the polite "that's not necessary" thing - it kinda caught me really off guard - but he insisted. He handed me the check, folded in half. I put it in my pocket, thanked him, and went into the ER to visit my elderly gentleman.
When I got home, I told my wife the story, and she was amazed. She asked "how much was the check". I looked at it, and was very pleasantly surprised - $5,000.00!!!!!
I'm glad his name and address were on the check, because I never even got his name!
I was called to the hospital to visit one of our (kinda sorta) members who was in the ER for congestive heart failure. As I was approaching the hospital, the family texted me and said things were much better, under control, he's still in ER, but no hurry.
I parked my car, and - because this hospital is doing a lot of construction - had to park in a different lot than the ER lot.
As I was walking from the lot where I parked to the ER lot, there was a rather large older African-American lady standing at the top of the 6-step stairs that goes from the lot I was in down to the ER lot. She was hanging onto the railing with her left hand, and her folded-up walker with her right hand, and appeared to be hanging on for dear life. Some other ladies were with her, but they appeared to be even older, and somewhat frail.
As I approached her (I never want to insult somebody who appears handicapped, but wants to be independent) I asked her "could you use some help, or are you better doing this on your own". At first, she didn't answer, and neither did the ladies with her. I was about to back away when she said, "maybe I should use some help".
I made sure she has a grip on the railing, then gave her my arm, and took the folded-up walker and handed it to her friends. I told her to hang onto me for her right side, and hold onto the railing with her left side, and we began working her down the stairs, one step at a time.. first right foot down on a step, pause, left foot on that step.... after about 3 steps, she seemed worn out, and I told her "no hurry - we have all night, you're doing great....." She took a breath and started again.
It took about 15 minutes total, I'd guess, and during that time, I noticed a doctor had come out of the ER and was standing there watching. I guess he thought we had things under control, because he appeared ready to step in, but maybe didn't want to disrupt the progress.
When she finally got down to the sidewalk, and we gave her walker back to her, she told me 'thank you', and hugged me for more than just "a quick hug", and thanked me again. Sure, it warms your heart.
Then the doctor, having noticed the Church logo on my shirt, asked "are you the pastor of that church"? I said, "yes sir". He asked, "did you know that lady?" I said, "no, sir, never saw her before". He reached in his pocket, and said "I just wrote out a tithe check, but I don't have a church yet, and I work every Sunday. The name of the Church is not filled out, but otherwise, the check is complete. Would you please put this in your church's offering plate?" I tried the polite "that's not necessary" thing - it kinda caught me really off guard - but he insisted. He handed me the check, folded in half. I put it in my pocket, thanked him, and went into the ER to visit my elderly gentleman.
When I got home, I told my wife the story, and she was amazed. She asked "how much was the check". I looked at it, and was very pleasantly surprised - $5,000.00!!!!!
I'm glad his name and address were on the check, because I never even got his name!
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