Humble love

Love does not boast, it is not proud. It is humble, it teaches us to go low and slow.

I learned a lot about this from Daniel, a homeless disabled guy from Romania. The way we met was, of course, supernatural. The Lord highlighted him to me with a beam of light while I was walking down the busy shopping street in the city center. First I just passed him, because I did not know how to approach him. It was a hot summer day, so the Lord told me to bring him some water. Great! I can do that! He was sitting on the ground, his deformed feet stretched before him. So I kneeled and asked if he is thirsty, if he would like some water. He did not really understand, so I showed him a bottle. He said yes and we started talking. Then we ate  and drank coffee together. I said I believe in Jesus, he said he believes as well, he was brought up as catholic.

That surprised me, somehow I assumed that he is not a believer. It must have been extremely hard to trust God in all he has been through. In broken german he told me his story. His both parents died, his only brother sent him away, because he had difficulties to provide for his own family. So he ended up in Frankfurt, sleeping on the street with no shelter, his landsmen regularly stole money from him and because of his hand and feet deformations he could not find a job. Still he did not say a word against God! When I brought him a bible in his mother language, he kissed it and treated it like the biggest treasure. When we took the tube, he stepped back and let me go first, a gesture I rarely experienced with my colleagues, when he invited me for coffee he insisted on paying for it. He was not bitter, he enjoyed life, he laughed and always asked me how am I doing.

It moved me, I really enjoyed being with him and somehow never pitied him. We went to church, he really enjoyed just sitting in the car and did not comment my unexperienced driving ;) I prayed for him several times, but I did not see his limbs healed. He was not discouraged, he showed me the spot where he usually sleeps, bought a cell phone, so he could call me. And I started waking up in the middle of night checking if it is not too cold, not raining, not snowing. When we were outside together, people stared at us as we were making selfies, some even approached us and I had some beautiful opportunities to share my faith. I learned from this man that humble love attracts people like nothing else in this world. 

I didn´t see him on the streets for a long time now, the phone number is not active. My last information was that the social services were trying to get a place for him to stay, so he can undergo a surgery for his feet. I know we still pray for each other and I will be forever thankful for what he taught me.