The Trash Man is My Best Friend

                The trash man is my best friend.  My trash man best friend has been coming to my house for 10 years  to take my outside trash can to the street for  pick up. He began this small act of kindness during the time that I was struggling to care for my late husband, Glen.  I was struggling to work fulltime, grieving the seriousness of Glen's cancer diagnosis, working fulltime, managing a household, calling yet another ambulance, and trying to keep my sanity.  Taking the trash can to the street on pick up day was not on my list of priorities. 

One day I realized that the trash can had mysteriously been placed at the curb for pick up.  During a casual conversation with my elderly neighbor, he mentioned that he had been doing this chore  for several weeks.  He obviously didn’t do it for recognition because I hadn’t even noticed if the trash can was empty or full.  

Through this one small act of kindness, we began a friendship which has developed into a mutual fountain of wisdom.  My trash man friend has outlived two wives, one son, and even a couple of pets.   So he understands how difficult life can be.   I have seen God give him the strength to keep living in the midst of the grief.  In spite of his own disappointments, he has remarried, maintained a household, and continues to reach out to other people. He and his wife have both become a model of kindness for several of our neighbors.   He comes every week to my house and does a  job which I would consider dirty work.  He can also be seen walking the 1 ½ miles to the end of our street to pick up the trash which has been thrown out of car windows. Always smiling, never complaining, not expecting to be noticed or thanked. 

Just by living his life, my trash man friend has taught me several life lessons about perseverance, hope, and faith in a Good God.   Two of the most important lessons are:

1.  No act of kindness is ever too small

2.  We are never “too old” for God’s Kingdom work

My trash man friend is now in his 80’s.  He could very easily justify “retiring” from this trash job.  And yet he continues to serve me and several other neighbors on trash day.

 And so my own hope remains:

NEVER “retire” from doing God’s appointed Kingdom work

               NEVER neglect a small act of kindness.