Life isn’t about the materialistic things we own or the expensive cars we drive. If we were stripped of our possessions or suddenly lost it all, would we lose our identity? Would we know who we really are?

On my way home tonight, I carried random leftovers from an event: spinach dip, chips, curry chicken on small pieces of toast, cheese and assorted fruit.

“Fruit?” he asked, as his eyes lit up.

“Yes,” I replied.

A few minutes before seeing him standing on the corner at an intersection holding a sign, I had a passing thought that if I saw a homeless person, I could bless him/her with all of this food. Of course, it could also be my lunch for tomorrow.

I continued on my way home, and my heart was put to the test. “Talk is cheap.” Would I actually do what I just had a passing thought about? “Ask and you shall receive.” Didn’t I just ask for a homeless person to give this food to?

I read his sign that said something about needing help. His sign didn’t ask for money, and it wasn’t very specific or clear about the kind of help he needed. Without hesitation, I asked him if he was hungry, and pulled out the 3 boxes I had wrapped up in a plastic bag. He saw it and right away, declined, saying he couldn’t eat all of that food. I told him it was random items. In my mind, I knew that some of the boxes only had chips. Or only spinach dip. What kind of person would I be if I just gave him a box of spinach dip to eat?!

The traffic light changed, and I handed him all three boxes. Told him to enjoy it and God bless. He thanked me. I could tell that the small gesture touched his heart.

I may not be rich in my bank account at the moment, but I am rich and blessed in other ways. And I can still find ways to bless others. I didn’t do it to win a humanitarian award. I didn’t do it for the recognition or pat on the back.

My heart has changed. It wants to plant seeds of hope. I want to inspire others.

Life’s too short. “DO what makes you happy, BE with who makes you smile. LAUGH as much as you breathe, and LOVE as long as you live.”

Plant seeds of love everywhere you go. It might just warm your heart.