(This is part two of a two part blog post. Please see the last blog post for part one.)

 (In the split second before he spoke though and while he was staring at me, in all his humanity…I was frightened of him. There was a thrumming vibration that I came to realize was my heart, beating violently against my chest.) He reached towards me and grabbed my arms, right above my wrists, and he held on tightly. My heart beat faster and I swallowed hard. He looked me square in the eyes and then in a raspy voice said, “Thank you…FRIEND!”
 

That beating heart of mine went immediately to my throat and tears glistened in my eyes as he held on to me. As I looked into those grateful eyes of his, I somehow managed to whisper, “You’re welcome!”
 

I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS HAPPENING TO ME. All I wanted to do was feed my son his lunch. But God had another idea and He (who is love) needed someone else to be fed and I was the vessel He chose to use. My new friend stared deeply into my eyes, for a split second longer and then released his grip from my arms. But in reality, his grip has stayed with me since that moment!
 

The woman returned with his turkey and gave it to him. Before he left, he turned around again and gave me an appreciating nod. I stood there dumfounded. It was a surreal moment. With pursed lips and fighting back tears, I managed to nod in return. Thank goodness I had that LUNCHABLE in my hand, because I honestly forgot why I was in the store in the first place. I paid for the LUNCHABLE and left the store immediately after him. I looked for him in the small parking lot(and around the corner), but could not find him anywhere. Where could he have gone? I walked slowly back to school, as I was trying to collect myself and get a hold of my emotions. My heart was beating faster than normal and I got a tingly feeling inside me.

What had just happened?
 

There was no sacrifice on my part concerning the free turkey. I was there, at that moment, for another reason that day. I felt immense gratitude for my lot in life and God’s constant touch. I said a silent prayer for my new friend.
 

When I returned to St. Monica’s with Michaels lunch, he came flying up to me again and said the following, “Guess what, Mom? Today is only a half day of school! You don’t need to go to WEIS and get me a lunch!” he said gleefully.

“Thanks Buddy,” I replied while thinking of my new friend.
 

But I knew deep in my heart that I really did need to go to WEIS that day before Thanksgiving. And I thanked God in the silence of my heart for that.

And I knew that I too had been fed.
 

“Often, often, often goes Christ in the strangers’ guise.”—Ancient Gaelic Saying