“Good evening! How are you?” I asked with a smile and a respectful nod.

With all her worldly possessions in a dark plastic bag dangling beside her, the middle-aged woman on the streets of Las Vegas cautiously studied my face.

She surveyed her surroundings to determine if I was speaking to her and then pointed at her chest with hopeful doubt. “Me?”

“Yes, ma’am. How are you this evening?”

“I’m hungry,” she said nervously. “Do you have a dollar so I can get something to eat?”

I pointed across the street. “I’m heading over there to get myself something to eat. Will you join me?”

As if from a previously bad experience, she appeared worried and retreated a few steps. “I’m really dirty. I'm not welcome in there.”

I put my hand on her shoulder and smiled. “Money is always welcome in restaurants, and I’m buying. Trust me. You’ll be fine if you stay with me.”

Once we received our food, the grateful lady asked me if it was okay if we hugged. Following our embrace, I prayed over her.

Afterwards, with tear-filled eyes, she turned to leave. She stopped, turned back, and said, “Thank you so much! You have no idea what you did for me.”

That was the first time in my life I felt a sense of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40, when He said, “as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (NKJV) It wasn't that I felt she was less than me, just less fortunate in the moment.

We never know what a smile and kind word may do for others. Why not give both away freely and see what happens?