I
was hugged by an ex-con last Friday. Not
mugged … hugged. And it was all
good.
You
see, I have this friend named Frank who served eight years in San Quinten
prison. And he hugged me.
I’ve
had occasion to loan Frank some money from time to time. Every time – EVERY TIME he has paid me
back. He came to see me Friday and
needed twenty bucks. I loaned it
willingly.
WILLINGLY? You gave an ex-con twenty bucks?
Yes,
I did.
Over
the three years that I’ve known Frank, he has been reliable to repay me every
time. Friday, he looked horrible. He had a three-day’s growth of beard, he
looked beat down, off center somehow.
As
the story unfolded, his mother had a stroke a week ago and he is trying to cope
with that and manage his own life as well.
He
asked for twenty bucks, and said, “I have it worked out that over the next few
months I’ll be able to pay you back $xx each month and pay off another loan I
owe.”
And
I believe him, for he has proven reliable.
And
he is my friend.
I
am friends with an ex-con. How about
that?
I
told Frank about my work change and that I’d no longer be at that particular
location. He asked a few questions to
make sure this was a good thing for me – are you alright? Etc.
I
assured him it was a great thing, and something that I sought out.
And
then he hugged me.
In
that hug, I heard …
“Thank
you”
“You’ll
never know what your friendship means to me”
“You
care and you believe in me”
“I
trust you and respect you”
Here
I was near downtown Seattle, standing on a sidewalk at 4 PM on a Friday, and I’m
being hugged by an ex-con.
Not
mugged by an ex-con.
Hugged!!!
And
it was good!
The
loans? The amount of money he owes me?
Not
worth mentioning.
The
friendship and hope that I think I have given to a friend of mine?
Inestimable!
This
is my morning reflection!
Words of Hope
Encouragement Inspiration
One Word at a Time
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