Who Was That Man?

I hurried down a busy street to meet with friends

These ladies I had not seen for a long while

I bought the most flattering dress to astonish

The shoes were even the newest of style

I did not dress like this normally but I wanted to impress

My pace was slowed when I found myself behind an old man

His cloths were tattered, his hair a mess

As I started to pass him, he looked up with a big smile

At which time I noticed teeth missing and a dirty face

I gave him a slight smile and nodded my head

He kept smiling as I went by as fast as I could

I was very careful not to brush against him

I did not want to get dirt on me, what a mess he was

I arrived at the restaurant to find my friends

They looked great as I knew they would

I was proud of how I looked as well

My mind kept returning to that poor old man

Why was he such a mess, where does he live?

Does he have anyone to help care for him?

I finally pushed his weather warn face from my mind

After spending a less then delightful time with my friends

I hurried home to change back into the real me  

The next day as I was going on my way

That man once again I saw by the side of the road

I turned and gazed the other way as I drove by

Pretending like my eyes did not catch his stare

It was kind of odd twice my eyes would fall on him

The rest of the week passed without my eyes spying that man

He did not leave my mind with that big smile of his

Getting busy with my chores of running here and there

That man pretty much had left my mind until

I saw my own dad that Sunday then it happened

In my mind popped that mans tattered, worn face

I could not escape his gaze I carried in my brain

There was something about that big smile of his

I wondered how his smile could be so enormous

It appeared he had no money for he appeared so unkept

Why didn't his family help take care of him I wondered?

Rest did not come easy since his arrival into my life

I began to pray that I would see him again, I did not know why

The next day I was walking down that same familiar street again

There he was with the giant smile on his face as he sat on the sidewalk

I took the time to stop, I did not plan on being there long

I ask about his family, but he had no one that cared for him

I had many questions running through my mind

Quickly the though jumped in my head from I don't know where

That he must be hungry sitting here on the sidewalk like this

I invited him to the restaurant down the street to have a bite with me

He objected at first but my compelling words convinced him

People pointed as we entered but his big smile never left his face

He just ordered a hamburger and fires as did I

We chatted while waiting for our food, he was very interesting

Our food arrived, he bowed his head quietly for a minute

Was he praying I wondered as I watched his lips move?

When finished he ate very slowly as if to savory very bite

 "How can you have such a huge smile on your face?" I asked

He looked up at me with very caring eyes and began

"If I share a smile with someone it might help them through their day

I never know what a hard day they might be having"

"But you" I interrupted "are living here on the street"

"Yes, I am" he said not losing his smile. "I have met some great people

Coming and going here on this street God sent you my way

God sends special people your way if we only look"

We continued talking as we ate then we went our way

I never saw this man again but have always remembered his words

"God sends special people your way if we only look"