Entertaining An Angel
This is true story as told to me by my wife...she was the woman in thisstory! She told me it at least five times, and I have attempted todescribe via written prose the extraordinary events of that special day!
It was just another ordinary day as she performed her tasks at a largeuniversity as an administrator working with Hall Monitors and residents.It wasn't uncommon for students to pop in to say a welcomed "Hello" orthe like.
This particular day would bring something entirely new herway. As the workday neared its end, she sat at her desk as shecompleted some paper work. She heard a sheepish giggle and looked upstartled by what she saw.
This was not one of the many students thatwould drop in routinely to ask her a question about dorm life orcomplain about a given Hall Monitor. Standing there at the door of heroffice was a very short black man who, by most standards, would beconsidered unseemly to look at as he clearly had been born with birthdefects.
He was unusually small and his face was deformed as he stoodholding a cane. Obviously his eyesight was impaired as well. Trying tokeep her composure she asked, "Hello, can I help you with something?"
He smiled and replied, "No Ma'am, I just like to come to campus to makefriends but most people won't talk to me because I think they are scaredof me by the way I look."
Trying to be tactful, she replied, "Not atall! I am not scared of you. You look just fine to me." He giggled againas he placed his backpack on the floor. "Are you having a problem or isthere something going on at your dorm that I can help you with?," sheasked.
"No Ma'am. You see, I am not a student. I carry this backpackaround with me so that the other students will talk with me and be myfriend but I don't think it's working very well because no one wants totalk with me very long. I come to campus because there are alot ofpeople here and I want to make friends."
As she looked at him, her eyesbegan to tear up but she desperately tried to hold her emotions back forfear that he would think she felt sorry for him. The conversation wenton as he told her about himself and she told him more about her life andthe things that had occurred while dealing with students.
His laugh wasinfectious and his childlike innocence was so delightful. Before sheknew it, she realized that she no longer saw him in the same light asshe first did. "Well, I think I've wasted enough of your time so Ibetter leave. You have better things to do than talk with me."
As hereached down to the floor to pick up his backpack, she began to tear upagain but this time the tears came not from her feeling sorry for him,but from the respect she had for his being so incredibly brave. Holdingback the tears she stated, "You are one of the most kind and beautifulindividuals that I've ever met. Promise me that you will come back andvisit again as I enjoy talking with you. Do you promise?," she asked.
Hesmiled and callowly looked down for a moment. "Yes, I promise I will butI have a hard time climbing the stairs. Can I ask you a question Ma'am?"She stood up, as she wanted to shake his hand before he left and replied,"Of course you can. What do you want to know?"
He stood very still ashis eyes turned her direction. "Did you really mean what you just saidabout me?," he asked. Without hesitation she quickly replied, "I'venever said anything more true in all my life and I mean that!" Hepositioned his cane and began to walk out of the door but suddenlystopped and looked her way again.
"I can't see you very good, but forthe first time in my life, I believe someone. Thanks for talking to meand being my friend. I'll be back, I believe in someone now!" As hewalked slowly out of her office he giggled, smiled, and uttered verysoftly....."I believe."
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people haveentertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
Copyright © Brian Jett --- Kentucky