My Friend Marty

Whenever I go by the local mall usually he's sitting on the sidewalk painting pictures from his memory wild, enchanting places at that. It'd been a long stormy week; when I ache, I see it in his eyes too, so I greeted him and asked him if he was in need of anything. He said he'd stocked up on food when the hurricane was due but there were a couple of things he could use, if I might agree. He said he liked to sip a beer though he would never get drunk; maybe I might buy him one as well as a couple of smokes. So we went into the grocery; he picked out his favorite beer, a couple of packs of cigarettes; he smiled, a twinkle in his eye. He talked about the Bible how Paul told Timothy to drink a bit of wine to help his ailments; I'd just read the verse that day! We agreed there were Scriptures advising us not to get drunk; I walked off into the rain then happy I could help ease his pains. He thanked me wholeheartedly gratefulness on his rugged face; He'd suffered many worse times during his days in the Marines. I bring him some bread each week, some lunch meat or peanut butter; the church van helps me deliver these which always makes Marty smile. I know he sleeps on the floor of the twenty-four hour Laundry, helping the owner ward off crooks who raid the coin boxes mid-night. I pray for Marty now and then; I'm pretty sure he prays for me too; I own several of Marty's paintings, they hang proudly around my place. "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." 1 TIM 5:23 (New King James Version Of The Bible)