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Belle's Musing - I Love the Homeless
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Belle’s Musing – I Love the Homeless
By Belle Touchton – The Missionary Dog
Mommy – Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
“Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?”
He will answer them, “I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me — you failed to do it to me.” Matt 25:44-45 The Message
My mommy and I went out to meet new neighbors. Daddy’s finished working in Phoenix so we moved to Jacksonville Beach. Since Halleluiah was in the shop, Mommy and I decided to do missionary work in our new neighborhood. We’d been all over the country and so far, none of our days were as much fun as getting to know our new neighbors.
Mommy likes me to be nice to strangers. I tell her you’re not supposed to talk to strangers but she doesn’t agree. She even seems to enjoy it. I groan when I hear the words, “What a pretty dog.” A stranger is about to pet me on the head.
When that happens, Mommy points to the ground, commands, “Sit!” and I begrudgingly sit while strangers put their hands on me. If I move too quickly, I get in trouble so I give people exactly 10 seconds before I duck behind Mommy’s legs.
There are two exceptions to my “stranger danger” rule – children and the homeless. Jacksonville Beach is full of both. Today was wonderful. I chased children and dogs as Mommy talked about God. Then we found the spot where the homeless gather and I was in heaven.
Everyone is surprised I like the homeless. Most people ignore them or go out of their way to avoid them. They act as if they are scared of them or like being homeless is contagious. If they would take a moment and look into their eyes, they might see what I see. Homeless people love me and I love them.
Today, Mommy began talking with 3 men sitting on the street corner. A man in a wheelchair made roses out of palmetto bushes and Mommy gave him a dollar for a rose.
“I’ll give you all of them for $5,” the man countered.
Mommy laughed and said, “You’re a good salesman but I only have so many dollars.”
A man sitting on the ground spoke up, “I’ll take one of those dollars.”
Mommy laughed and handed him one.
“Wait a minute,” the wheel chair man said. “You bought a rose from me and gave him a dollar. Where is my free dollar?”
Mommy laughed again and this time she gave him another dollar. She asked, “May I take your picture?” (see photo gallery – Florida – Jacksonville Beach)
“For what?” the man in the wheel chair asked suspiciously.
“I’m a Christian,” Mommy said. “I’m a missionary and I manage a website. If I put your picture on the website, people will pray for you.”
“Sure thing,” he agreed. “I could use the prayers.”
“Are you a Christian?” Mommy asked. They were off to the races, each one telling their story. The man on the ground admitted that he was a Christian but had trouble giving everything to God. He didn’t say what his problem was but he was holding a garbage bag full of beer cans so I had a pretty good idea. Mommy must have known as well because she gave him a card about overcoming addictions and talked to him about recovery programs.
He asked my name and when he said, “Belle, come here,” I happily trotted over to him and he put his arms around my neck.
Mommy looked shocked when I let him nuzzle my neck.
Couldn’t she tell he needed that nuzzle?
Most people just stick out their hand towards me and wait. When they finally pet me, they tap 3 or 4 times on my head or gingerly rub my mane before wiping their hands on their clothes. What is that about? They act like I’ll get them dirty. I’ll have you know that my mommy bathes me way too much.
The homeless know what a dog likes. They pull me right into their lap, wrap their arms around me, and bury their face in my fur. When I lay my head on their shoulder, they whisper how sweet I am.
I don’t think Mommy understands how good the homeless smell. Why is it that most people bath all the time and put smelly stuff all over their bodies? I like the way the homeless smell.
Mommy looked at the third man and said, “You’ve been very quiet. Do you know how much Jesus loves you?”
“Not really,” he mumbled.
“Jesus loves you and so do I. I have another dollar here. Would you like it? It’s not much but I’m willing to give it if you can use it.”
“Thanks,” he grumbled, quickly taking the dollar and drawing back his hand. Mommy smiled and also handed him tract about Jesus.
“May I pray for you?” Mommy asked the 3 men.
They all nodded and the third man smiled for the first time. The man in the middle asked, “Will you hold my hand while you pray?”
Mommy nodded. I stayed in his lap and Mommy leaned over, took both of his hands into hers, and prayed. As they prayed, they made a circle around me.
We walked off and next, we spotted a woman sleeping on a park bench. She looked up at us and wistfully said, “I like your dog”
“I do too,” Mommy smiled as she walked over.
This poor woman suddenly grew terrified. “I’m not homeless, I’m not homeless,” she cried. “I live in a senior citizen home. I just left the restaurant. I bought my lunch there.”
She was sleeping with her giant pack as a pillow and wearing several layers of clothes. She smelled like she was homeless. Mommy tried to calm her until she realized she was upsetting the woman more then helping.
As we left, I looked back and lingered, offering her one more chance at a doggie hug. She needed it but was too scared. A homeless man later told us that people were always running them off the beach.
We walked around talking to people for a couple of hours. When we got back to our car, Mommy crossed the street and went in to an open park area where there was a group of homeless people standing and talking.
“I hear you’re a missionary,” one man said as Mommy walked up. How quickly word travels.
“I am, and this is my missionary dog Belle,” Mommy said.
This man sat right down on the ground and pulled me into his lap. I laid my head on his shoulder and he sunk his entire face into my fur. I think he liked the way I smelled too.
Mommy pulled out a stack of dollar bills and her tracts and a crowd gathered closely around her. She talked to each person and to the group as she slowly passed out the dollar bills. After asking a few questions, she carefully chose a tract for each man and woman. One man refused the dollar but took the tract.
When we got back to our building, Mommy met another one of our new neighbors standing by our elevator. Her name was Doris and she drives the fancy car parked next to ours. When she tried to pet me, I quickly ducked behind Mommy’s legs. Mommy says I shouldn’t play favorites but Doris simply wasn’t up to my standards.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.
This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road as a traveling missionary, send your tax deductible contribution to Pocket Full of Change Ministries, POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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