A Lesson in Love and Humility

This week, YHWH used a homeless man to teach me about love.

A few days after we were robbed, Ian and I found ourselves walking through downtown Atlanta — waiting for our emergency passports to be processed. The city felt heavy, full of noise and need.

As we walked, we talked about the homeless — about how much help they really need, not just with food or money, but mentally and spiritually. I admitted to Ian that so many seem deeply tormented… some by mental illness, some by demonic influence. We agreed that both need care and compassion.

If I’m honest, I wasn’t comfortable. That environment makes me uneasy. Just minutes earlier, we had saw 2 men yelling and saw a man holding a golf club, and not long after, the other man walking away bloodied while police questioned the first. It was chaotic and tense — the kind of moment that makes you want to turn inward and keep walking.

But then, YHWH showed up for a lesson.

As we rounded another corner, a man began talking to Ian. He never asked for money — just spoke about the love of God. Then he looked at us and asked, “What do you see when you look at me? Why are you able to talk to me?”

Without hesitation, Ian said, “Because Jesus loves you.”

The man broke. Tears filled his eyes. He told us that just minutes before, someone had called him a “worthless N.” Then he asked why we didn’t see his skin color.

I told him, “Because our bodies are just boxes — temporary homes for our spirits while we’re here. The box doesn’t define us. The spirit inside does. I reminded him of how God sees him, loved and worthy."

Ian added, “You are loved by our Heavenly Father.”

The man’s name is Daniel. He grabbed our hands and prayed a powerful, heartfelt prayer. Then he told us that he has family who hates white people, but he’s thankful he never chose hate. He chose love instead and so happy to have talked to us.

We thanked him for his time. Ian gave him some money — not because he asked because he didn’t, but because we wanted to bless him. Then Daniel turned to Ian and said, “Take care of your wife. She’s dressed like a good woman — modest, honorable. Love her. Protect her. Never raise your hand against her. You are blessed to have a good godly woman.”

He didn’t want anything from us except to be seen… and to remind us of love.
We hugged him and walked away different.

Here’s what I learned:

People will always be judgmental — that’s not your responsibility. Your responsibility is to respond like Yeshua.

We choose love — even after being robbed by the homeless just days before. Because how I show up, even among the same kind of people who hurt us, still matters.

If I had let fear or discomfort rule my heart, I would’ve missed the chance to love Daniel — and be changed by him.

I had just spoken judgment over that group… and YHWH used one of them to humble me, soften me, and remind me that love sees past the box.

I needed that heart check.