The Price of Freedom

​This is my new friend Elrayah Sadala. He is from Africa and moved here as a refuge because where he is from you are not allowed to express your religious beliefs and if you do you get executed. I found him on the steps outside of a church wrapped up in a blanket getting ready to sleep. As my group of friends and I headed back to our car I gathered up any water bottles we had and my friends gave me money to bring to him. As I approached him he immediately started drinking the water and was so thankful for that alone. I sat on the steps and listened to his story, and he never once asked me for any money. I noticed he had a cast and crutches and didn't once say anything about it. I asked him what happened and he said he was hit by a car and was actually there for a while but had to leave because he could not afford to stay.

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He never once tried to make me feel bad for him or asked anything from me. He kept saying god bless you simply because I wanted to talk to him. When I left I gave him the fifteen dollars my friends gave me to give him and he started tearing up because he was so thankful. I told him I'd find him again one day so he can tell his story on my talk show. It saddens me to know this great man will be spending Christmas on the steps of a church outside, but his spirit to do great things with his life one-day was truly remarkable. Before you go and judge a homeless person on how they got there consider Elrayah , the man who would rather be homeless here in America and express his Christianity then in a home unable to practice his faith in Africa. This is what Christmas is about. Be thankful for everything in your life and always hold on to who you are.