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Charity In the Act of Kindness

he stood there beyond the counter mixing ketchup with water as i stood in line for food his downcast eyes avoiding stares as the manager told him he needed to go i saw him lay his tattered jacket down on the frozen ground to rest his tired bones while he sipped on his makeshift tomato juice as i walked by i handed him my lunch and a twenty, it was all i ever carried with me a few other people had followed my lead as others walked by with disgusted glares he glanced up with a half smile as a whispered thanks almost swallowing the first sandwich whole the depths of his eyes as he peered up gleamed with a trace of faith and hope as he told us it was his first meal in days i didn't have time for his story that day and although i never ate any lunch that simple act of kindness left me feeling full October 13, 2019 1st Corinthians 13:13 Inspiration Poetry Contest Sponsored by Regina Riddle

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Alexis Y.

Date: 10/30/2019 11:18:00 AM

Hi Sandra, I really enjoyed this piece. The world would be amuch better place if we "all" would follow your lead. Your last stanza was touching and moving " i didn't have time for his story that day and although i never ate any lunch,that simple act of kindness left me feeling full". Great job! Congratulations on your fine win. It was well deserved:-) Alexis

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/30/2019 11:33:00 AM

Thank you so much Alexis...i cannot walk past a homeless person and not help...it's my nature, but to see the way this man was being treated as he tried to warm up and make a ketchup drink for nourishment broke my heart...what kind of person could walk away after seeing that? hugs

John Hamilton

Date: 10/26/2019 2:34:00 PM

Lovely and kind gesture Sandy, you have a good heart. Congrats on the contest win, little consolation considering the subject matter. Faith without woks is dead, your works shine brightly!

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/26/2019 6:45:00 PM

Thank you John... I guess that’s why I loved your homeless encounter so much. I Always try and help if I can ... hugs

Hello There

Date: 10/25/2019 9:51:00 PM

Congratulations on your amazing win, Sandra!

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/26/2019 6:48:00 PM

Thank you so much my friend :) hugs

Sam Kauffman

Date: 10/25/2019 7:36:00 PM

Your poem reached me on so many different levels. It is quite beautiful. Congratulations on your winning placement!

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/26/2019 6:49:00 PM

Thank you so much Sam :) hugs

Eve Roper

Date: 10/25/2019 6:01:00 PM

Sandra, congratulations on your top win. Hugs Eve

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/26/2019 6:49:00 PM

Thank you so much Eve :). Hugs

Chris Green

Date: 10/25/2019 7:07:00 AM

Congratulations my friend for your first place finish in this contest. Your beautiful poem has landed exactly where it should have and I couldn't be more proud.

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/25/2019 10:47:00 AM

Thank you so much Chris... this image and story will always stand out in my mind.... hugs

Caycay Jennings

Date: 10/25/2019 1:51:00 AM

Touching - hits me on a personal level as my brother spent decades homeless. I can't even let my emotions go there - let me just say it's an emotive, meaningful poem that strikes all the right places. I've not been on Soup for any length of time in quite awhile so I've missed reading you - always a pleasure. Be golden ... CayCay

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/25/2019 10:47:00 AM

thank you so much my friend...i miss you on soup and hope all is well... hugs

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 10/24/2019 10:17:00 PM

Congrats on your winning entry. Love the poem and story. Beautiful. Love and hugs, Gina

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/25/2019 10:46:00 AM

Thank you Gina, for honoring me with a win, your kind words and hosting the contest that brought the inspiration to share this story... hugs and love

Line Gauthier

Date: 10/15/2019 9:58:00 PM

Brilliantly penned, Sandra.

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/25/2019 10:45:00 AM

Thank you so much Line :)

Silent One

Date: 10/13/2019 10:41:00 AM

you did very well for this contest, a fitting poem, full of compassion..

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/13/2019 11:15:00 AM

Thank you so much my friend....it was something that tugged at the heart for sure... :) hugs

Tom Cunningham

Date: 10/13/2019 4:04:00 AM

Sandra you are an angel, lovely to read this Sunday morning. You truly are a good Samaritan and I hope this does well in the contest. No luck needed. Tom.

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/13/2019 7:00:00 AM

Thank you Tom...it was hard to pen the whole story in 20 lines or less of free verse....i felt bad for him, and apparently the ketchup was his source of nourishment for quite some time... the staff was so rude, telling him to leave, the temps were brutal and he was hungry... i felt compelled to help but i always do... hugs

Hello There

Date: 10/13/2019 12:27:00 AM

Good luck, Sandra. This was absolutely amazing... the written word and the act itself. A fave, my friend.

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/13/2019 6:57:00 AM

Thank you my friend, i see it far to often and cannot just walk by them, i feel compelled to help... hugs

Gershon Wolf

Date: 10/12/2019 10:27:00 PM

Awesome act of kindness you've done and penned. And that last line is so perfectly expressed. Here's to a winner in the contest. May your (and all of our) acts of kindness be multiplied! Warm wishes, Gershon

Sandra Adams
Date: 10/12/2019 10:34:00 PM

Thank you my friend, this was in the city of course and i felt so bad for him, they pretty much kicked him out because people were complaining of his stench...i cannot walk past a homeless person especially if they are at an eatery and not give them something...usually don't have cash on me as i hate carrying it but will have some if i am on a work assignment, but even without cash i will buy them a warm meal and hot or cold drink depending on the weather outside... :) hugs