| A Prayer for Mark Anthony Jones and his son PrestonTonight as I was getting out of Steven's car in the parking garage of his apartment a man walked up to us asking us how we were doing. I was cautious, unsure of what he was doing out so late especially when the first words he uttered were, "Oh good you guys aren't afraid of me." Apparently he had been walking around in search of generous people, even being shooed away by the cops. But he seemed safe enough so we stood there and listened to his story. He is a man trying to make a life for himself and for his son off of the streets, who started his new job at 6 am today and needed $14 to buy his waiter clothes for the next day. His son is just about to turn 16, bright with high academic scores and a future, and it seems they lost everything one way or another. So Steven pulled out his wallet and handed him a 20. And I followed suit and gave him another $11. He thanked us for being a blessing and praised Jesus for answering his prayers. He asked us to pray for his son Preston and even offered to give us all his information so that he could pay us back. He works at the Sheraton off of I-35. We told him he didn't have to worry about paying us back and he blessed us again and headed off toward the highway as we climbed the stairs to Steven's apartment.
What's funny is that just before we got out of the car I was telling Steven about how I felt sometimes ministry work can seem like a job and it shouldn't be. That maybe sometimes God will just bring people to you and you just have to see the right opportunity to share God and His love when it presents itself.
I really hope the man we saw tonight was genuine. That he was sincere. That he really is trying to turn his life around because he knows Jesus. Regardless, God still loves the poor and the needy so I must too. So here is my prayer for you Mark Anthony Jones and for your son Preston: Dear God, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to see your heart tonight. To see that you love your children just like you promised. So please continue to watch over Mark Anthony Jones and his son Preston. And this tiny cynicism I have in my heart about the sincerity of his pleas, take that away because regardless, I hope he felt your love tonight and is comforted. And keep them both well and healthy as they try to survive in this harsh world. I pray that Preston will be able to go back to school and continue his education. And I am thankful that they have each other and you. So I hope that Mr. Mark Jones is diligent as a waiter and that both he and his son continue to find joy in you. We pray this in your son's name because you are Lord. Amen.
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| esse quam verdi
to be rather than to appear
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