This touched me
This is an email that Tyler Perry sent out on his mailing list. I needed to read this this morning. Peace.
This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that
I'm dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to
open my mouth and start complaining when I remembered something that
happened to me about a year ago.
I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be homeless
started walking towards me. I'm ashamed to say this but I thought, "I
don't feel like being hustled today." Then I got quickly convicted. I
felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money. As she
got closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever
seen. As I was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I
thought, "Here goes the sales pitch". She said "Excuse me sir, I need
some shoes. Can you help me?" My eyes filled with water because I
remember being out on the streets and having only one pair of run over
shoes. I was taken aback for a second.
I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in
her size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and
thanking Jesus, and saying, "My feet are off the ground! My feet are
off the ground!" Several of the wardrobe people started crying. I was
crying. But I never forgot those word. "My feet are off the ground!"
I thought, "Wow! All she wanted was some shoes." She quickly
disappeared and never asked me for a dime. I realized that I still had
the money in my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just
that quick so I looked all around the neighborhood for her. I found
her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying. I
was so touched. I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me
that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter. She
said that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no
place to go, but she knew that God would make a way for her. I said to
myself, "He just did." Her faith and her praise moved me.
I took her to a nearby hotel and put her up until she was able to get
on her feet. I had someone that worked for me to check on her from
time to time and to make sure that she had food and clothes. After
about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her.
This past summer I was shooting "Daddy's Little Girls" and this woman
walks up to me smiling. I didn't recognize her face, but her eyes were
familiar. She had on a really nice dress and her hair was done. It
was her! She told me that the little help that I had given her had
changed her life. She was in a house now and doing very well.
I said all of that to say this. After I met this woman, every time I
think about complaining and mumbling I remember, "My feet are off the
ground!"
I wanted to share this with you just to let you know that when I say
that I am thankful for you, I mean it. And when I say that you are a
blessing to me, I mean it. We take so much for granted sometimes that
I just wanted all of you to know that I am grateful to God for you
everyday. Thank you for being in my life.
TP
