Today, I will share with you what I call a "good read." I received the following from my dear friend Liz Hauer on April 23, 2016. Many of you who read "Coffee Talk" will remember Liz. Although she has passed on, the message she left for others is still suitable for today.
Potato Chips
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it would be a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer, then started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. The old man was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons.
The boy sat down next to the old man and opened his suitcase. The boy was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed the old man looked hungry. So, the boy offered the old man some chips. The man gratefully accepted the chips and smiled at the boy.
His smile was so pretty the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered a root beer. Again, the old man smiled at the little boy who was delighted. They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and so he got up to leave. But before the boy had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man and gave him a hug. Then the boy gave the old man the biggest hug ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.
His mother asked, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" The boy replied, "I had lunch with God in the park." Before his mother could respond, the boy added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his dad's face, so the son asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"
The old man replied, "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his son responded, the old man added "You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have potential to turn a life around. "Thanks, be to God!"