Jarrid Wilson

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting a sixty-seven year old homeless man named Tom. In the last couple months I’ve noticed a growth of homelessness near  the edges of our city, but something about Tom was significantly different.

At first I gave Tom some change and offered to pray for him in passing, but once I returned to my car and preceded to drive off, something vibrant was telling me to go back. I got out of my car and decided I wasn’t going to ignore what God had put on my heart, and that my agenda will not be put before someone in need.

In returning to where Tom was sitting, I began to ask him about his story, and how he ended in the predicament he was today.

Five years ago Tom lost everything he owned to Hurricane Katrina, and has been homeless ever since. He made his way to California to “try and make it”, but has fallen short like many others in similar situations. 

I came to find that Tom has no family, no friends, or living relatives within his reach. And the only person he had talked to in the last few years, was me.

I preceded to ask Tom if there was anything he needed. Or any way I could help.

1) Money?

2) Food?

3) Clothes?

4) A Cellphone?

Tom said, “a cellphone would be great for health related emergencies”. I told Tom to meet me in the same spot the next day, and I would have a pre-paid cellphone waiting for him. 

Sure enough, at the same spot the next day, Tom was waiting for me and I had his cellphone in hand. He began to thank me, shake my hand, and tell me how grateful he was for the phone. After praying and getting him some lunch, we parted ways and for the last two weeks have not since him since.

Yesterday, on the way back to my car I heard a familiar voice yell, “Hey Jarrid!”. And to my surprise, it was Tom, leaning up against the same curb grinning the same smile. I joyfully walked over to him and asked how he was doing, and where he had been. Tom began to share something with me that I will never forget. 

The day after I gave him the cellphone, Tom went into congestive heart failure underneath the bridge where he sleeps. Because of the cellphone, he was able to call 911,  and has been in hospital recovery ever since. 

Toms exact words to me were, “If it wasn’t for that phone, I would NOT be here today”.

That’s no coincidence. That’s God. 

- Jarrid Wilson 

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