"We have brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these." I Timothy 6:6

You may remember that last week Mrs. Holmes told a story about a homeless man and his little dog . . . that Uncle Floyd and Mr. Mawakasunga found out behind the church dumpster? They drove him over to Bethesda Mission, a building over in Harrisburg where men can seek shelter when they have no place to live.

Uncle Floyd thought a lot about that man. Imagine, someone so hungry that they would look for food in a garbage dumpster!

And then, last Monday morning, when Uncle Floyd was taking the trash out to the dumpster, he was really surprised to see that man there again, with his little dog. This time it was during the day and this time the man was not hiding.

"So, we will pretend that the homeless man is standing here, holding his little dog.

"Howdy?" said Uncle Floyd with a bit of a question in his voice. "I reckon I’m surprised you are here again."

The man, whose name turns out to be Luke, said "I just wanted to stop by and say thanks for the help last week."

"You need some food?" asked Uncle Floyd.

"No, no!" said Luke. "I just had breakfast at the Salvation Army on Green Street. And I’ve got a bus ticket to get to Allentown tomorrow. I just wanted to stop by before I leave to say thanks . . . and to ask for a favor."

"Oh boy!" thought Uncle Floyd to himself. "I reckon he’s gonna’ ask me for money."

But instead Luke said "I can’t keep my dog with me anymore. I managed to hide him at the shelter, but he can’t ride with me on the bus tomorrow. I saw that you have a little boy. Do you think that you could find a place for my dog in your home?"

Uncle Floyd wondered about his own dog Jeter and asked "What’s his name?" "A-Rod" said Luke.

"A-Rod! . . . " Uncle Floyd said to himself. "I reckon he’ll need his shots updated, and he sure needs a good bath!"

Then Luke said "I don’t have much right now, but I have what I need. The Good Lord has provided me with food and clothing. And a bus ticket to Allentown. And I hope, a home for A-Rod."

Uncle Floyd suddenly felt a great out-pouring of love for Luke and his dog. "I reckon the Good Lord HAS blessed you." And then, Uncle Floyd took A-Rod from Luke and said "And now He has blessed me too." 

Uncle Floyd held A-Rod up and gave him a little friendly bounce in the air and said "I expect you’ll want to play ball with Jeter and Barabas!"

You know, if you have enough to eat and clothes to wear . . . and if you know God’s love like Luke does, then you are rich indeed.

THE END

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