25-8-2008 - Generous Heart

My mood while writing this blog: Relieved

So I thought that I could share a little story about my yesterday. My husband and I right now are staying at my moms for a few months to save enough money to buy our house before the baby is here. All that my mom and step-dad ask us to do is help with cleaning and get groceries. So we go grocery shopping about every other week. This week my Step-dad went on Saturday for some reason. My mom told me that all we had to get was stuff for our lunches the rest of the week. So me and my husband went to the grocery store. We still spent the normal amount no less then what we usually do.

We were on our way home, crossed the railroad tracks and came to a stop sign. Right directly in front of me stands this old man, I would say 60-70 years old holding a sign "will work for food" Something hit me and I just started bawling. It was very hot and humid outside, he didn't have anything to drink, he obviously was hungry and here I am with a car full of groceries that were not even really needed. I kept thinking who am I to be so lucky? To have a place to live to have family that cares, who gets to sleep in an air conditioned house when this is probably a man more than liely who fought for our freedom to be able to do whatever we want. Thoughts kept running through my head. Questions I will probably never get answered. I proceeded my journey home. I just kept thinking about him, crying on and off. I couldn't take it anymore. After I put our groceries away I started making a sandwhich. My mom, step-dad, and my husband all asked me what I was doing. I told them that I had to do something even if it wasn't much. It could mean a lot to this man. I just kept thinking how hot it was and how I could barley stand it to walk from the store to my car let alone stand outside all day with nothing to drink. They asked," what if he already left?" I just said, "oh well at least I tried."

I proceeded to make and extra thick sandwhich (praying he would still be there), put some chips in a baggy, crackers and cheese, an orange, a big thing of grapes, a sprite and a juice all in a plastic bag. I would of gave him some water but we didn't have any cold at the time. After it was all packed up I told Mason to come with mommy because I wanted him to learn something. So we jumped in the car and went to where the old man was. I pulled into the church parking lot (no better place then there to show generousity) and the man proceeded up to my window. The first thing I looked at were his hands when he stuck them through the window to grab the plastic bag. They were old worked, dirty hands, that have been through a lot. Next I looked him in the face and said," Here you go sir, I made you a little lunch" trying to hold back the tears he looked at me and said, "thank you lady and God Bless you" I told him he was very welcome and I watched him walk off with the bag. The whole time Mason was in the background asking " Mommy who is that? who is that mommy" When I pulled out that church parking lot the tears starting coming again this time so hard I couldn't even answer Mason as to who that was. I knew I had to explain to him who that was because that was the whole purpose I had him come with me to show him a lesson about life.

Once I pulled myself together I had to explain to him in "Mason Terms" I said," That old man back there doesn't have a mommy to feed him everyday, he might not have a place to live, and he is hungry. So Mason when people are hungry and don't have anything to drink and you have something to give them, give it to them. Mommy wanted to help his belly get full and give him something to drink because it is hot outside." Ok mommy he said.

After all this I felt a relief inside of me. I not only got to give an old man something to eat and drink for lunch that day but I also got to show my son that life isn't always easy for people and if it is possible to help someone else out, do so!