Cupcakes and Toothbrushes

I was thinking back to this past Christmas and one of my favorite parts was spending time with my sons on Christmas Eve morning. We had family coming over that evening for dinner, gifts and all the usual festivities. We had ordered tamales for our meal so there wasn’t much prep needed, which freed us up that morning. In the days leading up to Christmas I had decided to make some chocolate peppermint cupcakes complete with sprinkles to give as gifts. We usually give gifts to people we know- family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. This year I had the idea to hand them out to the homeless people we see at various locations around town. I figured they probably don’t get many gifts, if any at all. I thought they might like a little care package as well. So along with the cupcakes each person would receive a bag with some toiletries inside, all tied up with a Christmas bow. I was so happy that my sons were up for the adventure and wanted to join me. We drove around town on a Christmas Eve mission determined to give out these treats and share the love of Jesus. Each person we met was so grateful. As we were approaching one man he greeted us with a joyful “Merry Christmas”.  He was very kind and immediately ate his cupcake with gusto. Another man that we met couldn’t believe that we were doing this together as a family. We had a short visit with most of the people we met. The one man we didn’t get to visit with was asleep under a tree by the side of the road. In this instance we decided to let him sleep. I pulled our car up to the curb and my older son quietly got out and set the goodies under the tree next to him, so as to not disturb him. That didn’t exactly go according to plan. The man peeked one eye open and suddenly jumped up. I don’t know who was more startled, him or my son. Watching from my car I was a bit concerned, hoping the man didn’t have PTSD.  Very fortunately he didn’t. My son smiled, motioned to the cupcake and bag he had left and then hurried back to the car. As we drove away the man was sitting under the tree enjoying his cupcake. This encounter makes me laugh just thinking of it. I think this might become a tradition.

Psalm 82:3, Defend the weak and the fatherless;

    uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.