but they do

the little girl sits alone and helpless

on the ground of a dirty subway entry

she just sits, holding out her hand

asking for money to buy some food

you know what you've been told

about beggars and thieves

- and orphaned children-

it's the same heartless words

that every visitor hears

but this time you just can't ignore

the feeling that you have

you've seen them before

but somehow, this time it's different

you drop two coins into her hand

as you pass by, she glances up

her dark eyes hold yours

and you can't help but stare into them

they hold such sorrow

such grief and pain

that a child's eyes should never see

but they do

you can't forget that little girl's eyes

as she sits alone

her skinny body shivering with cold

and her dark eyes staring at nothing

waiting for a penny

that might never come

you tell yourself "of course I'd do more

if I really knew how, if I really could

but that's just one- one little girl

and two coins that will be gone tomorrow

what good will they do?

nothing. not much. they don't matter"

but they do

weeks go by, but still

you can't forget that little girl's face

on the last day, you take the same route

hoping that you might see

that little girl a gain somehow

you don't even know what you'd do

if you saw her again, you just know

you have to do something

you approach the place where you last saw her

and eagerly look around

but it;s empty- no signs of life

except for the subway janitor, sweeping nearby

you know it's crazy, but you walk over

and ask about the little girl

the man says that just yesterday

a beggar child was taken away-

because she died

you just know it was her

and with silent tears, you turn and walk away

they don't care

but you do

years pass and you live your life

but somehow, you can never forget that day

then one day comes- it's your day at last

as you enter the golden gates

you're overjoyed and overwhelmed

suddenly, you see those eyes staring back at yours

and that little girl greets you

with all the gratefulness there ever was

you can't believe it

as she leads a group of children to you

five children you've never seen before

yet they're thanking you for setting them free

"from what?' you ask, "who are you?"

and they reply, "we're her siblings

and becuase of you, we are all here

that day, you gave us all something so precious 

you see, our sister ran home with the coins

and used them to buy some food that day

she met a missionary at the market

who came back to our hut and told us about Jesus

and just a few weeks later

our sister suddenly died-

but not without hope"

you're amazed and stunned

that just two little coins

had saved six precious lives

through God's grace

you thought it didn't matter

then you hear a Voice that says

"truly, when you do it for the least of these

you do it for Me

you thought it didn't matter

but they do- 

and I do"

~written 1.29.17

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ // Matthew 25:40