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Today's Christian, January/February 2001
The Pre-Dawn Test
Was I awake enough to pass?
by Elaine Cunningham
R-r-r-ring. Is that the doorbell? I looked at the clock. Five thirty. Who could be ringing our parsonage doorbell this early?
My husband rolled out of bed and went to the front door. I heard a mumble of voices, and then he returned.
"Honey, could you get up? A hungry beggar needs some breakfast."
I groaned. This was not the first time I'd been called to help a needy person on our doorstep, but it was a bit inconvenient this morning. Not only was it black as night outside, I knew our refrigerator looked like Mother Hubbard's cupboard. "It's a poor time to feed anyone. You know we're moving next week. I've cleaned out the fridge and most of the cupboards."
"Well, see what you can find. He looks desperate."
I scrambled out of bed, threw on my bathrobe, and headed for the kitchen.
There, in a chair in the corner, sat the most pitiful piece of humanity I'd seen in years. A tattered felt hat hid his eyes. An old scarf covered the rest of his face. His long, ragged coat dragged to the floor.
"Would you like to take off your coat?" I asked.
"No," he mumbled through the scarf. His body shook. "I'm c-c-cold."
A beggar's breakfast
I opened the refrigerator door. Hmmmm. A few slices of bacon would have to do. Maybe there's an egg left. I found three. I took a frying pan out of the cupboard and turned on a front burner on the stove. As I opened the package of bacon and peeled off two slices, I glanced again at the man. He still sat bundled up, shaking with cold, or palsy, or something. Poor old soul. Maybe this is one of "the least" Jesus said we should befriend. You couldn't get much more least than this one.
I turned back to the stove and laid the limp slices of bacon in the skillet. They sizzled as they hit the hot pan. This is probably the first good meal this fellow's had in a while. I prayed for him silently as I concentrated on turning over the bacon slices.
Suddenly, the man in the corner leaped from his chair, ran toward me, and threw his arms around me!
"Mom," he yelled, and tossed off his hat and scarf.
My heart pounded with fright, then relief, then laughter, as I looked into the mischievous eyes of my son who was supposed to be away at college in Kansas City, not posing as a vagabond in Indiana.
"You passed the test, Mom," he said, still embracing me. "I thought I'd surprise you with this disguise to see if you would feed me early in the morning. I drove all night to get here."
"Well, you certainly surprised me—almost gave me a heart attack. You're lucky I didn't crack you on the head with the frying pan."
Later, after my heart had stopped pounding, I reflected on my son's test and realized what a good reminder it was to be ready to help the needy for Jesus' sake, even at 5:30 a.m. Next time, though, I'll watch closely for a twinkle in the eye—just in case.
A Christian Reader original article.
A Christian Reader original article.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
Click here for reprint information.
January/February 2001, Vol. 39, No. 1, Page 26
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