One blessed day, I had the honor of sitting down with one of my dear friends, Ramel, whom I’ve known for over 25 years.  I regard him as one of the all-time greats of all human beings on the planet.

So on this beautiful Tuesday, I stopped by his office just to chit-chat, but did not realize that this would bring me a unique gift ~ hot water, soap, and coffee.

No doubt you are wondering, what is the significance of
these three things?

Let me tell you a story, and all will be revealed….

As a young boy, Ramel was raised in Honduras.  A hard place to live and even harder when you’re young. A key survival factor is common sense—and there’s nothing common about common sense.  Not everyone has it.  Thank God Ramel did.

At the age of nine, Ramel had to learn to cook in order to feed the family and himself.   To do so, he observed others in his family and those living nearby.  He had two sisters and two brothers, all younger than him, sharing tight quarters.

Ramel’s mother left them to work here in the United States. Periodically, she sent money back to Honduras, via her ex-boyfriend.  But sadly, the children were not receiving
any of the money.

So late one night, Ramel came up with a “windy” plan. He told his sisters and brothers to run like the wind down to the house of their “Papa” (Grandfather)—two long miles away down a dirt road.  Together, they ran in the middle of the night, arriving at Papa’s place with what little they could carry in their little arms.

Now, everyone knew not to come to Papa’s house. He had a reputation of “not playing”—you didn’t mess around with Papa.  Even Ramel’s mother’s ex-boyfriend would not dare to go there looking for the children.

But Ramel’s mother knew they were there….

After some time, his mother sent for his sisters to come to the States—leaving Ramel in charge of caring for his two younger brothers
at Papa’s house.

After working long hours on the docks, Papa walked several miles, up and over a hill on his way home. Each day, he gave Ramel a little bit of change to spend on food.  With a grin, the boy would dash off to the busy street markets and buy what he could—usually bags of beans, rice, and a little bit of meat—then dash home and cook ‘em up together for all to share.

Now each day when Papa came home, Ramel saw him make a cup of coffee.  So one day, the bright young soul began a magical ritual. Anticipating his grandfather’s return, Ramel ran to the window and saw Papa coming over the hill.  Ramel then ran into the kitchen and put up a pot of hot coffee.

Next, as the coffee was brewing, Ramel got a tin bucket, filled it with hot water, and grabbed a bar of soap. When Papa came in the door, Ramel was ready. “Sit down in your chair,” he
told his grandfather.

In a flurry of excitement, Ramel darted into the kitchen, and returned with a steaming cup of coffee for his Papa.

Then he got on his knees and began untying Papa’s shoes.  As the older man gazed down in wonder at the young boy, Ramel took off Papa’s shoes and socks.

Then, while Papa sat in his chair and sipped his coffee, young Ramel lifted Papa’s feet, placed them in the tin of hot water, and began to wash his grandfather’s feet.

Four years soon passed this way, with Ramel bringing his Papa hot water, soap, and coffee every day—and at night, because they were so poor, they even shared the same bed, sharing the warmth.

But there came a night—one terrible night Ramel will never forget—when he tried talking to Papa, but his beloved Papa did not answer.  Young Ramel shook his Papa, but he did not awaken.

Knowing little of death, Ramel got up and in his anguish and confusion, began running down the road.  Shouting out Papa’s name, he ran until he came to the house of their nearest neighbor.

Concerned, the neighbor came back with Ramel to his home. When he saw Papa, the neighbor looked Ramel straight in the eye and said, “Papa is gone.”

The poor boy was inconsolable.  What would Ramel do
without his Papa?

After a time, Ramel’s mother came to Honduras to get him and his brothers.  Together, they came to live with her and the girls here in California, where Ramel lives to this day. Just a few weeks ago, he told me this story, as he shared with great emotion: “There’s no one more important than my Papa … he made the biggest impact
in my life.”

Ramel may have grown up as a poor child—all he had to offer was hot water, soap, and coffee—but he was rich in grace and common sense. His story reminds us, at any age, of the power and beauty of placing others before ourselves.

It is not enough to live for your own success today, or dwell on yesterday’s failure.  You need to anchor your belief, in this moment, in the greater good ~ and know that for everyone there is a season & abundance in its own fashion, in its own time.

Even as you question your own fortune (or lack thereof), do not lose sight of others and their plight.  Say you’re feeling stuck, between jobs, or otherwise bemoaning your current situation.  Rather than stay fixed in selfish disappointment, why not gaze up and generously ask another living person:

“What can I do for you?”

… And for a change, imagine, “What kind of smile can I put on your face?” ~ with even the smallest gesture or an act of grace.

To a loved one, young or old, or a friend who may be in pain, why not ask, “Can I hold your hand?”

Or, to a harried photographer or an overwhelmed agent, try offering:  “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

Most importantly, can you say to an elder relative ~ one who has walked many a mile in service to your family ~ “Can I
wash your feet?”

I’m a firm believer that when you take a moment to do good deeds for others, angelic wings will fan goodness your way ~ especially when you’re in need ~ and dance it on.  In this way, your goodness can be contagious and inspire others to soar
upon the breeze.

To me, the most precious word in the book of life is ‘Giving.’  I’ve learned in my life to embrace all mankind, and not to take anyone — or anything — for granted.

The shoe that you cast off today as trash, may be one man’s treasure tomorrow.  So take care not only of people but also your possessions, and open up your wardrobe as well as your heart.

Too often, we live life backwards.  We send huge bouquets of flowers to funeral homes, rather than bringing them to our loved ones in their own homes.  We speak of all their good things after they pass, but who among them can hear?  We cry about our loss, but what of theirs?

Why not reverse this process? Give flowers to and speak well of the living, so they can hear your appreciation and feel your love while they are still alive.  And when you cry ~ cry together.  For when they see your river of tears, only then will they grasp how
deeply you care.

From the time he was a young boy growing up on the hard scrabble streets of Honduras, Ramel demonstrated the kind of spiritual caring that we all need right now.

And the tears he shed for his Papa who was lost to him as a boy still river through the man Ramel is today ~ a groundswell of deep feeling that enriches his character and runs through his spirit in clear-to-behold as well as unseen ways.

If only there were more Ramels in the world, surely there would be myriads more young ones bringing hot water, soap, and coffee to their family members ~ whether parents or grandpar­ents by
birth or in spirit.

I share this story today with you, my friends, with the hope and trust that when you or I get old—as well we must— there is someone near to bring you hot water, soap, and coffee.

Some of the poorest people in the world have the richest hearts. – Michael Maddox

 

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