Part 10

As we were walking to the back of the bus going pass the various arrays of passengers Leah stopped mid aisle and lifted the rose up to her face and brushed it gently across her cheek. She then half turned towards me with a glimmer in her eyes and then turned her attention to a old black lady sitting in a seat holding a bag filled with items that were obvious to me that were discarded pieces of junk that she had picked up off the streets. Leah then leaned over tapping the woman lightly on the shoulder and said “excuse me Mam, God wants you to have this rose and He wants you to know that He loves you.” Leah then extended out the rose and placed it in the old woman’s cracked and time worn hands. At first I was a little taken aback that she was giving the rose I just gave her away, but then the enormity of what had just transpired sunk in and I simply stood there in awe.

The old lady then looked up at Leah with tears in her eyes and smiled a smile that revealed missing teeth. She clasped Leah’s hand and softly said “God Bless you child…God bless you” Tears were now welling up in the corners of my eyes as I watched this tiny miracle of compassion unfold within the span of a minute or two. Leah then reached back and clasped my hand in hers and we made our way back to a seat and sat down. I looked at her and told her that was the most incredible thing I had ever seen anyone do. She looked at me and replied, “Allen, I hope that you did not mind too much me giving the beautiful rose that you gave me to that lady, but I had already enjoyed the beauty from which it came and that was your tender heart. I thought about how happy it made me when you gave it to me and the way I see things is that God wants us to share our happiness with as many as will receive it…you’re not upset are you?”

“Upset with you Leah?...No, I am just amazed at the size of your heart I said.” She smiled softly and turned the conversation to what kind of animals did I think we would see at the zoo today. I told her that I knew they had a big cat exhibit and lots of monkeys and an elephant named “Joy”….she laughed a little and quizzed me on why I thought they named the elephant “Joy” I really don’t remember now what my exact answer to that question was but I remember she seemed content with my explanation. Up ahead I could see that we were getting near our stop and would soon be leaving the bus. I told Leah that it was about time to go see “Joy” because we were about there. She seemed happy, but then again she seemed happy about all things and this was one thing that so amazed me about her. When we reached our stop we got up from our seats and proceed down the aisle to exit the bus. I remember with clarity as we passed the old black lady how she held that single rose to her chest and was humming an old spiritual from long ago. Neither Leah nor I spoke as we passed her, but I do recall how her face so did shine. To be continued….

J. Allen Wilson © 9/2008

The Bus Stop Part 1

The Bus Stop Part 2

The Bus Stop Part 3

The Bus Stop Part 4

The Bus Stop Part 5

The Bus Stop Part 6

The Bus Stop Part 7

The Bus Stop Part 8

The Bus Stop Part 9