St. John of God could never witness suffering without immediately trying to do something about it. Throughout his life, his impulsive love embraced anyone in need without asking for credentials or character witnesses

At night, he took what little money he had earned selling wood and brought food and comfort to the poor living in abandoned buildings and under bridges.

His first hospital was rented without money, furnishings, medicine or help. After he begged money for beds, he went out into the streets again and carried his ill patients back on the same shoulders that had carried stones, wood, and books. Once there he cleaned them, dressed their wounds, and mended their clothes at night while he prayed.

He always acted immediately when he saw a need. Once, when he encountered a group of starving people, he rushed into a house, stole a pot of food, and gave it to them.  Another time, on finding a group of children in rags, he marched them into a clothing shop and bought them all new clothes. Since he had no money, he paid for it all on credit!

 In His Footsteps:  When you feel the urge to serve, help, or pray - don’t argue yourself out of it - do it immediately as John of God would have done, without thinking of how practical or how embarrassing it might be. Fight the little voices in our heads and hearts that give us all sorts of practical reasons to wait or delay in our service of God