Late for his flight, the businessman ran through the airport with his briefcase in one hand and his trench coat folded over his other arm. In his haste, he barely noticed the boy leaning against the wall. The blind boy held a tray of apples. In one corner of the tray was a tin cup filled with change. The boy pleasantly called out, “Apples for sale!” The man heard him and glanced in the boy’s direction, but never slowed his pace. He had to catch that flight to make it to his deal-breaking business meeting.
As he ran passed the boy, his trench coat knocked the corner of the tray and it fell right out of the boy’s hands. The apples bounced and rolled through the corridor; the change made a loud ruckus as it spread out all over the floor; the tin cup landed with a loud thud. The tray fell upside down a few yards away.
The businessman registered what happened and glanced back to see the blind boy getting down on his hands and knees to find his belongings. But he could only think of how detrimental it would be to his company if he missed his flight, so he kept running toward the gate.
The boy felt his way over to his tray and turned it upright. He scoured the floor for his cup and coins and apples. The man looked over his shoulder and the scene unfolding before him finally registered with his heart. He stopped dead in his tracks and tuned around. He walked briskly back to the child.
“I am so sorry,” he said as he helped round up the apples. “I’m sorry that I thought what I needed to do today was more important than you are. I’m sorry for knocking over your tray in my rush and for not stopping right away to help you.” He put all the coins back into the tin cup and loaded everything back onto the tray. He helped the boy stand upright and placed the heavy tray in his hands.
He dug in his wallet and pulled out some cash. “I’m putting $100 in your cup. I really am sorry for thinking you weren’t as valuable as I am. Can you ever forgive me?”
The boy, though blind, looked directly into the man’s eyes and asked, “Are you the Jesus I always hear about?”
Wow… this hit me somewhere deep…
you wrote this?! You are gifted friend, seriously gifted.
By: Amy on September 17, 2008
at 8:13 am
HA!! I just realized that I now have a SERIOUS advantage for getting first comment… and I love it ;)
By: Amy on September 17, 2008
at 8:13 am
Was it Guilt ‘working’ ? or was it God?
How many times in every day do we put our thoughts ahead of His in like fashion?
How often does our ‘coat’ catch us up in such a noticable effect?
love the way you have of getting me ‘thinking’ and ‘on track’ :-)
and also smiling :-)
<B
By: lovewillbringustogether on September 17, 2008
at 8:34 am
amy — i laughed out loud about your “advantage for getting first comment”! i love it, too!
as for the story, it’s actually one niel used to tell often in the early years of the ministry. he’d share it when he preached in churches, challenging people to BE the hands and feet of christ wherever they were. i thought of it again last week and wanted to try my hand at telling it. i sent it to niel for “approval” first, and he said he liked my rendition of it. phew! :-) it had been a while since i heard him share it…
mr. love — i like seeing the questions it sparked in your mind…
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 9:59 am
Reminds me of the seashell story - only about a million times better. I agree with Amy, you are gifted. Even if it was a re-told story it still takes skill to do it right.
By: @ngie on September 17, 2008
at 1:00 pm
thanks, angie!
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 1:13 pm
WOAH
WOaH
WOAH
This incredible!!! Now Tam’s comment just sent chills. know what I mean??
Loveya!
By: Heidi on September 17, 2008
at 1:24 pm
mmmm…. i’m smiling, heidi!
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 1:27 pm
The boy, though blind, looked directly into the man’s eyes and asked, “Are you the Jesus I always hear about?”
This sentence I came back for again. I don’t know why??
You got my mind a spinnin and it’s dark and 4:33 in the morning. good stuff… powerful
By: Heidi on September 17, 2008
at 1:34 pm
too early for deep thoughts, friend. man oh man!
that question haunts me, too. i wonder if my life will ever invoke such a question…
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 1:38 pm
I love this time.. I am getting ready for the beach, now i have something to mull over with.
Honestly I wonder too…. am I worthy enough?? Am i worthy enough to have encounter with Jesus? WOW… I’m a spinnin…
and I am not talking about this is a negative tone either.
Is my life worthy to bump into Jesus?
am I doing enough?
By: Heidi on September 17, 2008
at 1:43 pm
mmm… good thoughts and questions, friend. enjoy the beach.
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 1:44 pm
This one brought tears to my eyes. Since I’m more tart than sweet, it takes a lot to do that. Just thought you should know.
By: Tonggu Momma on September 17, 2008
at 2:26 pm
TM, thank you for being sweet enough to admit it…
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 2:27 pm
what an amazing story. thanks for sharing, alece!
By: mark on September 17, 2008
at 3:17 pm
good thoughts, I hope I’m seen as Jesus once in a while. I know I see some others that way. Last week my sister in law was staying with my grandma while my mom is gone and she had to give her an enema, shes a nurse so it wasn’t a big deal to her but that act of love and care really touched my grandma. Though I don’t think I could do THAT, I hope my taking care of her for a week is good enough.
Sorry if this grossed anyone out.
By: faithstart on September 17, 2008
at 3:33 pm
thanks, mark!
and faith, that was so great to hear. i mean, not that an enema is great, but yes — she was christ to your grandma. amazing.
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 3:53 pm
wow. i’ve been thinking of that a lot lately too…when do i send messages to people that something is more important then he / she is? people!
By: danielhodgson on September 17, 2008
at 3:56 pm
i do that far too often!
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 3:58 pm
Oh Alece, I loved this little story….brought tears to my eyes. What a great gut check for me when I feel like I’m too busy for “small things” Thanks girl!!!
By: moweezle on September 17, 2008
at 5:17 pm
I just made this post including you:
http://sharingnotes.blogspot.com/2008/09/missionaries-who-blog.html
Let me know if problem.
Blessings,
Roxanne
By: Roxanne Kristina on September 17, 2008
at 5:35 pm
mo, it IS a good “gut check”!
and roxanne, thanks so much for the link love!
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 5:45 pm
Thanks Alece…you got me all teared up this afternoon! What an example of God’s love. How often we are too busy to notice those hurting around us. I smiled at a mentally handicapped girl the other day as I shopped for groceries. It didn’t take but a second to do. She turned to her mom and said” mom that lady smiled at me.” She was so happy that I had smiled. It made me think of things a different way that day…like the man with the apples. It doesn’t take much sometimes to show Jesus’ love! So many hurting people. So many who need Jesus.
By: Jennifer Griffin on September 17, 2008
at 5:58 pm
Zowie. What a GREAT story. I’m gonna send a link to my friends.
Alece, I’m new here. But I think I need to tell you: Keep Writing. That was wonderful.
Steph
http://momonthejourney.wordpress.com
By: Steph on September 17, 2008
at 6:13 pm
awesome! really awesome!
By: Rachel Rowell on September 17, 2008
at 8:17 pm
I love this story!
Niel told it to us on Thrive Trip.
It strikes compassion in my heart just as much now as it did then.
By: mandie on September 17, 2008
at 8:37 pm
jennifer — i love that you did that. and that you got to see the “fruit” of that simple choice!
steph — your encouragement was perfectly timed; thank you.
rachel — i’ve been lovin’ your blog lately!
mandie — yep! niel loves to share this story! i’m glad you remembered it.
By: alece on September 17, 2008
at 8:54 pm
wow. crazy goosebumpage.
By: Amy Ellison on September 18, 2008
at 2:38 pm
wow…really?
By: alece on September 18, 2008
at 2:40 pm