This story was written about "Pending Coffee" by another author. When I saw the photo of the homeless man I was compelled to create a painting of him.
“There was a little coffee shop where two people arrived and approached the counter.
“Five coffees please. Two for us and three pending.”
They paid, they took their two coffees and left.
I asked the waiter. "What’s this about pending coffees?"
“Wait and you'll see."
Some more people came in.
Two girls asked for a coffee each, they paid and left.
The following order was for seven coffees and it was made by three women -
Three for them and four pending coffees.
I was left wondering...what is the meaning of the pending coffees, they leave.
Then, a man dressed in worn clothes, who looks like he might be homeless, arrives at the counter and asks sincerely...“Do you have a coffee pending?”
“Yes we do, sir.”
They serve him a coffee.... I got my answer.
People pay in advance for a coffee that will be served to whoever can't afford a hot drink.
This tradition started in Naples.
Amazingly, it has spread throughout the world’s cities and towns.
It’s also possible to order not only “pending coffees” but also a sandwich or a full low cost meal.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all start doing this in the cities and towns where we live?
Small kindnesses like this can impact so many lives, in ways we could never imagine.
Maybe we should all try it.”
Matthew 25: Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’