He’s the kind man who invited me into his little deli.

I looked around with wonder and asked, “did you all make this yourselves?”

He said, “yes”

I could tell everything was handmade and done with care.

He gave me a cup of water and talked with me.

He asked my about myself, made me feel like my life was significant.

He invited me to join him and his friends for dinner that evening.

The kind man’s friends and family were there too.

We all sat down together and they asked me all about my life.

I had never felt so noticed and cared for before.

He sent his sweet little daughter to me with a portion of food.

She looked up at me so sincerely that even though I wasn’t very hungry I couldn’t help but accept her hospitality.

The meal was simple and casual, but I felt like an honored guest.

 

I talked with the kind man all evening until we were both very tired.

He invited me to stay the night.

I almost said, “no thanks” since I already had an apartment nearby, but then I realized: I’m already at home. I had never felt at home before.

 

The kind man showed me my room. The bed was neatly made and a simple basket of fruit and small snacks was sitting atop the bedside table. It had a card in it with my name and a nice note.

I asked, “how did you get it ready so quickly?” He said, “We were already hoping you’d stay the night...”

 

I gave him a hug.

 

I woke up to the sound of music.

They were singing and playing guitar outside my door.

I couldn’t believe it.

I thought I was still dreaming, but the sun was out so I knew it was actually morning.

I got dressed and went downstairs where I saw him and his friends and family gathered together in a circle.

Someone started singing and the musicians and everyone else joined in together.

I was amazed.

After several songs, one person after another shared their thankfulness and appreciation for their life and friends and the purpose they lived for.

I was wondering when the preacher was getting ready to stand up, but he never did. We all prayed together and then set up for breakfast.

The kind man invited me to come to the deli and worked with him.

I said, “Yes! It’s the least I could do!”

 

He showed me how to slice the meats and veggies and how to wash the dishes. It was simple work, but I was happy to do it.

I worked all day long and my feet hurt, but I didn’t really want to stop.

He said, “Isn’t amazing how love sustains us?”

 

At the end of the day, he invited me home again. He said, in fact, I could stay as long as I wanted…

      …I never left…

 

Have you met him before? His name is Yahshua and he’s found in a people who love God with all their heart. The kind man was actually a bunch of people I encountered, but they all had the same heart and spirit. We all love one another and care for one another. We live together and share everything in common just like the 1st Church did. (Acts 2:42-44) We are the Commonwealth of Israel and we have wonderful story to tell.