Sometimes it is just being there

A gentleman we see from time to time came in to do his laundry. He’s currently walking through stage three cancer, and that day he was visibly cold and shivering as he sat waiting.

We had recently been given a couple of donated blankets, so I warmed one up in the dryer and gently wrapped it around him. He’s a quiet man, and you can tell he carries a quiet strength, someone who likely wouldn’t ask for anything. I was especially thankful he accepted the warmth. Throughout his visit, I kept rewarming it so he could stay comfortable while his laundry finished.

I offered him a cup of coffee, a breakfast bar, and a quiet space to just be. We spent a little time talking about his situation, as he’s now needing to find another place to park his trailer after the property where he’s been staying was recently sold.

Sometimes it’s not about fixing anything…it’s about making sure someone feels seen, heard, and listened to without an agenda.

Just a few minutes is all it takes to help someone feel a little more comfortable…or to change their day.