A Nudge From Above?

@moffittjc (118204)
Gainesville, Florida
December 11, 2015 3:30pm CST
Today, I stopped at the bank around lunchtime to make a deposit. Afterward, I was going to walk across the parking lot to a great local Mexican restaurant to grab a bite to eat. However, as I exited the bank, I found myself walking through the parking lot in the opposite direction of the Mexican restaurant, toward KFC instead. I wasn't in the mood for chicken, and I almost never eat there. So as I was walking toward the restaurant, I asked myself what the heck was I doing. In addition, there was a homeless man standing in front of the KFC at the entrance/exit to the parking lot, begging people for spare change. Great, I thought, he's going to accost me as I pass him (much to my surprise, he just said hello as I passed, without once asking me for money). I went inside KFC, and ordered one of their value box meals. After paying with my debit card and receiving my receipt, I looked at it and realized the amount was too high. When I asked the cashier, she said I it was because I ordered two meals. I told her I only ordered one. She grabbed the manager, who came over and apologized, and said he would refund me the money. Instead, I had an idea, and told him not to worry about the refund, because I would just take the second meal out to the homeless guy out by the road. When the cashier gave me my order, she told me she filled the box as full as she could with chicken tenders, to make up for messing up my order! I thanked her and headed over to see the homeless guy. When I asked him if he was hungry, and pulled out the extra meal box, his eyes lit up! You could tell that not only was he hungry, but he was appreciative of the kind gesture. Since I had nowhere to be for an hour, I asked him if I could sit and have lunch with him. He was elated to have me join him, and the two of us sat there in the grass eating our meals. We had a great conversation, and I learned a little bit about his story. It was a fine afternoon. I'm still scratching my head as to how the whole thing went down. It was almost like I was being led by an unknown force to help someone, without even realizing what was going on. Whatever the reason, the end result was that I helped out a person in need, a fellow human being who had fallen on some tough times. Have you ever experienced something like this? Something where you felt the hand of God directing you somewhere, or the forces of the universe guiding you to something you wouldn't normally do?
11 people like this
9 responses
@VivaLaDani13 (59989)
• Perth, Australia
21 Mar 17
@moffittjc And this is not the first time you’ve helped someone in need! Jeff, that is such a wonderful thing you did! You seriously have a wonderful, warm and caring heart!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Mar 17
I figured it is about time I make up for all the bad things I did in my younger life! haha
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
22 Mar 17
@moffittjc .....keep talking...... Care to share any?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Mar 17
@VivaLaDani13 Those are secrets I will only tell you in person!
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
11 Dec 15
I am usually very reluctant to give anything to beggars in the streets these days because there are so many scroungers that do it just for extra cash. It is difficult to know who is genuine, which unfortunately deprives the few genuine needy of the help that many would otherwise offer.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
11 Dec 15
@moffittjc Life must be hard enough for people in that situation, but with the many charlatans using the guise for easy cash it must be harder than ever these days.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Dec 15
It's hard to know if you're actually helping these people or just feeding their habit. If you're going to do anything, better to buy them something to eat I think.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
12 Dec 15
@moffittjc This is the very situation that deters so many people from helping, which the genuine cases suffer for.
2 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
11 Dec 15
not really ... but I'm glad you listened to that little voice....
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
12 Dec 15
That was a really kind gesture you did today, I am sure that the man really appreciated not only you giving him something to eat but also for giving him your time. You are a really kind man.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 15
Most people would just give the homeless man some spare change, and then be on their way without a second thought about it. But they forget that there is a real human being, with real feelings, standing there begging. I just felt the guy needed a little company, to let him know that he is still a valuable human being, even if he is down on his luck for the moment.
2 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
12 Dec 15
That's an amazing story and I'm glad it worked out in such a great way.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 15
The way everything happened this afternoon around the whole situation was so uncharacteristic of me, it just really made me stop and think if there wasn't something much bigger (cosmic, in fact) going on! Who knows? But regardless of whether it was divine intervention or something else, at the end of the day I helped a fellow human being.
3 people like this
@Elizaby (6901)
• Pensacola, Florida
11 Dec 15
You never how and what God will use for someone to be a help in anothe person's life
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 15
The key for us is to listen and be prepared to act when God comes a calling!
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
12 Dec 15
I'd call that Divine Intervention.... you are the Angel he's waited for, for so long, I bet he is one very happy man, for such a blessing... great Karma!
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
13 Dec 15
@moffittjc So how do you know you weren't being tested for greater things to come?...and your response, was instrumental in the decision
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Dec 15
@bookbar I very well could be! I typically have not been a person who historically has shown a lot of mercy. It is just not one of my spiritual gifts, but I do pray that God softens my heart so that I can not only care more, but show also show mercy on my fellow human beings. I'm definitely a work in progress, and thank goodness God is patient!!!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 15
Well, I guess he was happy for the length of time his belly was full!, at least! I just hope he had a safe, warm place to sleep!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Dec 15
Without divulging any secrets, did he have an interesting story? We met a guy in Bristol selling the Big Issue outside an ATM. Vince chatted to him for quite a while then asked could he take his photo. He said yes as long as it wasn't put on FB. He didn't want his son in Brisbane to know he, the father, had fallen on hard times. He had become homeless simply through a few bad decisions when he had had a business. It's great that you did this and yes, it would seem like someone or something was guiding you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 15
He said he was a victim of the Great Recession. Prior to the recession, he was struggling to make ends meet, and then during the recession he lost his job. Slowly but surely, he ran out of money, and had trouble finding work. Eventually, he lost his car and his house. In this case, too, he didn't want his children to know he was homeless.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 15
@moffittjc It's really sad, especially when there really isn't anything in a person's past that makes such a situation seems warranted. Well, it's never warranted but likely or whatever - no drinking, gambling or other excesses - yet despite their best efforts the fates conspire against them and they end up on the streets.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 15
@JudyEv I think if we all pause and take a look at our own situations, there are literally millions of us who are one broken down vehicle, one missed mortgage payment, one medical emergency away, from being pushed over the brink into homelessness or financial ruin ourselves. Pretty scary! I went through this recently when I was so overwhelmed at work that I was ready to quit and walk away from a long and prosperous career at my employer, until I realized I would last about a month without a job and then be homeless myself. It's a real eye-opener!
3 people like this
• United States
12 Dec 15
Wow, your story gave me goosebumps! That was truly God's work at hand through you! What was funny was that even as it was happening you were wondering why you were doing it. Then when the double order went through you just knew what to do. That's so awesome that your heart was so open and receptive to hear the message given. I wonder how many people would have even thought of the idea or been brave enough to do it? As I see many other people have commented before me, you never know about homeless people and what drives them these days. Then sitting with him to learn of his background -- you are totally an inspiration to others! Thank you for telling us your story! It gives me hope that there are still good people out there willing to help others in need (even without knowing they intend too)! There is so much sadness and despair out there in the world today. It is so delightful to hear good heartwarming news for a change. God bless you! You not only helped out a homeless man but by telling your story you have given hope to me and others! Your good deed has multiplied. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!