Today, I went to pick up my grandmother for church and she was sitting in her living room crying. I walked inside and saw that my grandfather's clothing was laying in a pile on the couch. He died in May, and she hadn't been able to look in his closet. I asked her what brought her to finally go through the closet and she told me a little story.
On Saturdays, she attends a Jewish church. Yesterday, in the middle of the service, a homeless man came barreling into the church. He loudly asked for prayer. Everyone kind of just stared at him, surprised. Well, after the service, there was a luncheon. My grandmother and her friend invited him to sit at their table with them. The man was really tired and hungry. Well, when she got to talking to him, she found out that he was from the same area in Canada as she is. He'd recently migrated down here to get out of the cold. His jacket was soaking wet and had holes in it. Well, he just so happened to wear my grandfather's size. So, to make a long story short, my grandmother gave the man all of my grandfather's clothing. He got lots of nice warm winter clothes because my grandfather was a big outdoorsman.
It really touched me because in a way not only did my grandmother help this man but he also helped my grandmother out. I think it was kind of a sign from God that it is time to let go...that she shouldn't grieve any longer. It encouraged her to finally go through my grandfathers belongings and have a good cry. I also like the idea of his clothing going to someone specific that needs them. My grandfather wasn't a wasteful man, he wouldn't want his clothing to sit and collect dust. I am sure that man felt special too...that my grandmother invited him to her table to eat with her...that she conversed with him like he was a human being, not just some dirty homeless guy.
Maybe I'm just extra sentimental right now, but this really touched me.
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