Old man at a table

ordering a meal

the waiter speaks but

the frail old man cannot hear

he forgot his hearing aids

the old man is 91

he has forgotten many things

but still remembers the war

 

even more than a meal

the old man yearns for company

the young waiter sits down with him

and looks across the table

eye to eye

he takes the old man's order

and when he returns he stays

to listen to the old man talk

the old man is all alone now

his wife has passed on

and all his friends are gone

he has no one left to talk to

 

the waiter does this on his own time

he takes the time to listen

out of compassion for the old man

and by giving the man his time and visiting with him

he has accomplished more than serving a meal

he gave the old man someone to talk to

and warmed a heart in need

 

the old man was so grateful

for having an ear to bend

the joy of just talking to another

was the sustenance he needed

 

kindness is the cure for loneliness

and the essence of charity is giving to others

there is no more valuable thing to give

than your time.