Selfless

"Love isn't love unless someone pays." ~ Brandon Heath


The temperature was 20 degrees on that February evening in New York City. Arthur was walking hurridly towards a play downtown. He passed a young man on the side of the road who was obviously freezing, and was simply lying on the concrete. Feeling sorry for the man, Arthur pulled out a hundred dollars and gave it to the man and continued on his way. You see, Arthur was a self-made millionaire. A hundred dollars to him was nothing, but still, the man took it and he now had the money to go buy a coat and some food to sustain him. Just as the Arthur was walking away, and the homeless man started to stand, another man started to walk towards him. The homeless man quickly shoved the hundred dollar bill into his pocket so that this man walking towards him could not see it. This man was named James, and he also saw this homeless man. James was headed to the play as well, in fact, he was on his way to pick up some of his best friends before the play. James decided to stop and help this man. He gave his coat to the man, and sat down next to him and started talking to him. James proceeded to spend half an hour talking with this man, and then he went with him to buy him some food. After they had purchased the food, James looked at the clock. The show had begun a little while ago, and his friends had probably not waited. The homeless man sensed the sudden change in James, and asked him if everything is ok. After James explained, the homeless man began to feel very badly about keeping James. James just smiled at him and said, "some things in life are much more important than going to silly shows with your friends. Life is about loving, and the last few hours have been spent loving you."

Much could be said about this simple, and yet profound story. Which man loved the homeless man more? Some would say the man that gave a hundred dollars. However, did that bill really cost Arthur anything? Was he really "loving" the homeless man when he game him the money?
Or, could it be that James was the one that showed true love?

Love isn't love without sacrife. Love that is not selfless is no love at all. Real love costs something, and loving this homeless man truly cost James something. Arthur, well, he did a good deed, it cost him hardly anything, and he continued on his own path. James greatly altered his path to show true love towards this homeless man. "Love isn't love unless someone pays." And so, the only way to really love, is to give...to be selfless.