Walking in Another’s Shoes – That’s Friendship

DESOTO, TX (December 21, 2011) – A spontaneous small act by a little child at CrossRoads Covenant Church is one that Pastor Josef Rasheed says he will always remember.

Each holiday season, CrossRoads hosts holiday dinners and worship services that are designed as an outreach to the needy in their community. As part of the evenings, food baskets are given to people who are referred by local organizations.

From left: Josef Rasheed, Sierra Gadsen, Emmy, Gregg, and Doug Jordan

Arriving for the most recent worship service, Rasheed pulled into the parking lot and heard a young girl crying, “But they hurt, they hurt.” The adult who the pastor thought was her father entreated her to hurry in. Rain was falling.

“But they hurt really bad!” the girl cried again. The man replied, “Well, just leave them right there and come on.”

So the girl left them, and then the man and girl made their way across the parking lot. Rasheed already had entered the building and started greeting workers when the two walked in.

“I immediately looked at her feet, and she had no shoes,” Rasheed says. The man (Gregg) explained that even though his granddaughter, Emmy, didn’t have shoes on, it was important to get inside. “We need the food,” the grandfather said.

“I couldn’t hold back the tears,” Rasheed recalls. He whispered to his wife, Rochelle, and asked if she would go to the Walgreens across the street and see if they might have shoes that would fit Emmy.

Before Rochelle could even start for the store, four-year-old Sierra Gadsen walked up to Emmy and said, “Hi, my name is Sierra. What’s your name?”

After the introduction, Sierra asked, “Would you like to play with me?” The two took off running down the hall.

When they returned from playing, Rasheed noticed something had changed. “Emmy had on shoes and Sierra did not.”

After the service, the grandfather, Gregg Saner, asked if Rasheed would visit his mother, Doris. “She’s in hospice.” Rasheed assured Saner that he would.

“As he and Emmy left the church, Sierra and Emmy embraced and smiled as they said their goodbyes,” Rasheed says. “Afterwards, I asked Sierra what happened to her shoes.”

She hesitated to answer. Concerned that she might embarrass her new friend, Sierra replied, “I forget.”