Who am I? by Kristin Bridgman

Who am I?

I live out in the world

I live in a car or camper in parking lots

I live under bridges and tents and cardboard boxes in the woods

Who am I?

I may have lost my job and cannot get another

I may have gotten sick and lost everything

I may have made bad choices and consequences are following me

Who am I?

I'm a person just like you

I have red blood traveling through my veins

My heart beats just like yours

I feel hurt and pain, sometimes love

I cry, I laugh, I dream, sometimes I just sleep because of depression

Who am I?

I came from a family

I had a beginning, I have a story

Sometimes I have hope, sometimes  I don't

Do you know who I am?

Most do not know me because they are not looking for me

If they pass by, they don't want to look

They look the other way

If you see me please,

extend your hand to shake mine

Look me in the eyes and smile

Acknowledge that I am a human being worthy of a handshake, a smile, a little bit of kindness

Who am I?

I'm labeled homeless

I may not have a home but I still have a spirit

That spirit can get real low at times

So please say a prayer for me

Who am I?

                                                                                                   I am Daryl

                                                                                                  I am Dave

                                                                                                I am Gordon

                                                                                                    I am Larry

                                                                                                     I am Mike

                                                                                                   I am Roger

I am Sophia

If I seem unpleasant or I scare you, please forgive me

It's hard to always be on my best with so many worries on the mind, or aches and pains, or extreme uncomfortableness

Sometimes I may feel lost

But I will do by best to be kind to you

That's why a pleasant smile and a handshake can be so important

For you to look me in the eye and call me by my name

can lift me up

When you smile at me, I will smile back at you

Who am I?

I am a child of God

And I may be waiting for you to come tell me

 The blanket ministry began with a book I read called Same Kind of Different As Me, a very powerful, true story, about a homeless man that befriended a couple working in a soup kitchen in Dallas and how they were each changed by the other through their friendship. I was then led to a book club that was discussing this very book.  It was at this book club that I first learned my town had a homeless population.  It was November, already cold out and it broke my heart to think of people out there living in the cold.  I asked questions about how I could help and the answer came back "blankets". 

I began collecting blankets, asking for donations and began to seek out these people, befriending them in the mean time, getting to know them and they took my heart.  After giving away over 1000 blankets in two years, hearing stories and seeing them with new eyes, through the eyes of Jesus, it was layed on my heart to write a book, sharing their stories and bringing awareness to this problem and letting the general population know these are people loved by God and they are not to be scared of or to be repulsed by.

I found freedom from stepping out of my comfort zone to enter this new world, and I pray that as I share the love of Christ with people, they will find their freedom in the gift that is offered them in Jesus Christ.  That is the only real freedom!

Today's guest author is Kristin Bridgman, Christian blogger, wife, and mother of two sons.  To learn more about Kristin, visit her blog at http://ponderingsbykris.blogspot.com/