My heavy heart was consuming my thoughts. It was 105 degree heat index and knowing a few blocks away there were homes without air conditioning and barefoot sojourners, I couldn’t help but think, what could I do to help? How could I bring relief to my neighbor? So I gathered my kids and away we went, with the innocence of my nine year old asking, Jesus, show us who’s thirsty.

After tossing a few bottles of water and couple dozen ice pops in a cooler, we started out.

We walked up on a young couple who had a baby sleeping in a stroller. Their expressions were exhaustion and red faces, but a huge smile when offered a celebration of flavor and ice. Their eyes told a story, and their backpacks and belongings spread out on the ground. Another lady a few hundred feet away on a bench had another hour and a half before her shift at work started as she thanked us through several face piercings and a chance to talk to someone.

We wandered down the block where we walked past a building with a few people inside and out. It was a small building, but seemed like a church, maybe a mission? We stopped and I hesitated. What would the kids see? What would they say?

We entered and were greeted by people who were tired and dirty, bitter and smiling. Some were sleeping on cots, others at a table, or standing in a line.

I heard things like …nice tatt, you really like my braids? I don’t like ice pops cuz we never had electricity as a kid, can I help you carry that? It was the most beautiful place and I saw my kids come alive. My kids laughed, and were speechless, talkative, and were so comfortable.

Innocence and love collided with a need and emptiness.

As these neighbors picked through their favorite flavor of ice, pieces of a little bit of everything was clear. Kindness and empty eyes, blank stares and full teeth smiles, some scowls, but lots of gratefulness. We sat there on a random day, at a table, and talked about all sorts of random things. We dropped by, and heard a story or two, answered 39 questions, and learned a lesson about what school was like in 1959.

My kids taught me something that day. I cannot bring any part of myself into this. We meet these tired souls where they are. Extend a hand or a listening heart. It was the church. The hands and feet. The sanctuary of the heart.

This is where Jesus invades the empty craters of our hearts. Through friendship and small acts of kindness, through His hope and promise. Drawn to the love that only He can provide. A love so tangible, words can’t explain.

When Jesus said, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me. This is where it’s at. Loving our neighbors.

Loving anyway.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:35-40