This Is Really Ryan's Story

My husband is the kindest, most caring person that has ever walked the face of the planet. I know, everyone thinks that of their spouse, but in my case it's true. I think in certain situations even Jesus would say "dude, you don't have to do that," but Ryan would do it anyway.

Last night Ryan was driving to the store when he saw a woman crossing a street near our home that she obviously shouldn't have been crossing, because she obviously shouldn't have been walking at all. She was at least 75, limping, and had on sandals that were being held together by tape and faith. Ryan, being the guy that he is, pulled over and asked where she was going. She pointed to a nearby bakery. He asked if she was planning to walk back home, and how far it was. She said yes, and about nine blocks. He told her to wait for him at the bakery. He came home, traded out the high truck for the much lower car, and went back to fetch her.

When Ryan arrived he found the woman eating a slice of bread on the patio. This bakery is known for giving out free slices, and she had walked to get hers for dinner. Ryan went into the bakery, bought her a loaf of the bread she was eating, and then told her whenever she was ready to go, he was ready to take her. She was ready to go.

They got into the car, and Ryan asked where she lived. She told him the address of an old hotel recently renovated into apartments for the chronically homeless. It is much more than nine blocks away. They started driving, and sat quietly for a moment before she spoke up. "I hope you are just doing me a favor," she said, "because I don't have any money, and I don't do the sex."

I can only picture the look on Ryan's face. I am imagining he turned redder than his hair.

He says he sputtered something about having a wife and a child, how he works with young people, and never wanting to harm anyone in any way. He thought about showing her pictures. Then she started talking again, this time about all the people out to get her, and he fretted all the way to her apartment about if she was still afraid of him.

I think Jesus even would have been chuckling at that point. Then he would have thanked himself that there are people like Ryan in this world.

I know I do.