Homelessness....Some Stories Have An Amazing Ending!

So, I started a new job on September 19, 2013 at the Kangaroo Express behind my neighborhood. For the most part, it is a neighborhood store so everyone knows everyone; really nice actually. 

So far, I actually like it. I didn't think that I would at first but now that I have been there for almost 3 weeks, I really like it and I love the people that I work with and all the customers (the regulars anyways).

There is 2 guys that come up to the store every night that are homeless and their names are Ron and Joe. Well, Ron cleans our gas pumps and takes out all of our trash for us at night time and all he wants in return is the left over coffee and a beer. So I make that happen for him. Joe, he wants the left over hot dogs and the cans that are in the trash. So I make that happen for him. 

Before I was an employee there, there were a few times that I tried to give Ron some change that I had and one time I even tried to give him a hoodie because it was pouring down rain and I wanted him to have something dry and warm to put on after the storm and he denies everything that anyone tries to give him. He would rather work for what he wants. I respect that a lot. He is honest about his drinking. He doesn't drink a lot but he does drink a beer or two a day. 

Ron and Joe are both super nice and totally harmless. They make sure that we are safe up there at night. We work by ourselves up there so they sit up there at night time until we leave at the end of the night and make sure that we are safe and that we get to our vehicles safely at the end of the night. I really respect the both of them. They both work doing what they can here and there to get what they need and want. 

Homeless people have such a bad reputation. And I don't get along with most of them and I acutally can't stand most of them but Ron and Joe are different from the rest of the homeless people. 

Most homeless people destroy public places and do disgusting stuff in front of businesses and bug people for money and lie about what they need the money for. 

We have a homeless shelter here in Jacksonville that they could go to and most of them choose not to go there because they don't want to have to be in the shelter by lockdown time and they can't drink and do drugs at the shelter so they would rather bug other people. I don't feel bad for the homeless people that are homeless because they choose to be and because they don't want to better themselves....those are the ones that I don't feel bad for. But people like Ron and Joe, I do feel bad for and I would go out of my way to help them out. Last Thanksgiving and Christmas, I took them plates of food and that was before I even knew them like I do now....they are just really awesome people!

But I was told an interesting story by one of our regular customers yesterday.....

A guy (whom is a regular)came in and while he was at the counter paying for his merchandise, Ron walked in and said hey to him and everything and I made the comment to the customer that Ron was a good guy and that he does a lot for us up there and that he is a huge help to us and the customer looked at me and said,

 "Yeah, I've known Ron for a long time...I used to be homeless out here!" 

I just looked at him and said, "Wow, really? Are you serious?"

He responded, "Yes, I sure was! But, things changed for the best for me!" 

I told him that I was happy that things changed for the best and that it is awesome to hear an uplifting and inspirational story like that. He said, "Well, I will share my story with you!"

I was so intrigued to hear his story......

He said that he was standing outside that very same store (Kangaroo) and he was panhandling. He said that a lady was walking out of the store, back to her car and he asked her if she had 40 cents so that he could get a beer and she gave it to him. He said that he had a government phone and he had given her his number. He said that he did not expect to ever see or hear from her......

Two days later, his phone rang and it was her!!!!!!

Fast Forward >>>>>>>>

Here they are two years later, they are still together. He ahs a good job, they have bought two cars, a house, and they are living together happily and they are living a comfortable life. 

When he shared that with me, I just wanted to cry but all I could do was smile. 

I told him congratulations and that I was so happy to hear that and touched. 

I instantly was inspired to write this blog. 

This story makes you realize that beautiful things are possible and that all bad times have to come to an end eventually. Not everything lasts forever. 

My favorite saying when I am going through a bad, hard, or difficult time is, "This Too Shall Pass!"

Everything shall pass eventually. It may suck at the time that you are experiencing it, but it eventually gets better.

This story gave me so much inspiration. It also gave me a lot of motivation to never give up and to always keep pushing even when you feel that you don't have the strength to push on anymore. 

This has been my inspiration for the week.

Feeling inspired and blessed. 

I will leave you with this. Just remember, someone else always has it worse than you. Just keep faith and hope and keep moving forward and don't look back.

Leave the past where it belongs.....

DON'T ALLOW YOUR PAST TO BECOME YOUR FUTURE!

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment or share. Thank you!