The Man From the Mission

THE MAN FROM THE MISSION

The man from the mission came over that day

To help shovel the snow that halted our business, per se

He asked for nothing, just coffee and chat

It was very lonely at the point of life he was at

We took him for lunch and talked for awhile

He still had some dreams of a better life style

We bought him a hat, warm boots, and some gloves

He seemed to cherish our offer of love

Time passed and our homeless friend didn't appear

For some time he vacated the mission so near

We thought of him often and hoped he was well

Life on the street must be some kind of hell

The next year another humongous snow came to town

The mission man again arrived as the snow blanketed the ground

He still sported the boots and the gloves and the hat

But the spring in his step we will never forget

Our kindness and appreciation dealt him new hope

He realized that with  courage and respect he could cope

He had been steadily working and making a living

And was anxious to thank others for the help he was given

He grabbed a shovel and and joined in our task

Just volunteered, we didn't even ask

He invited us to lunch and wanted to treat us

And explained how easily the world can beat us

Our friendship, he said, made him feel like the man

Who once could not but has proven he can

That man from the mission we considered a friend

We would pray for the progress for this man on the mend

This man on a mission to retrieve self respect

No longer himself he would ever neglect

He had a new future of progress to fill

And looked satisfied as he took care of the bill