I recently left a grocery store on a Friday when teachers were in conference and children were out of school. As I walked out with my bags of groceries, I saw a family.
This family included a mother, father and five small children. All appeared to be malnourished. They were very quiet as they walked to their vehicle. I thought to myself “I wish I had checked out behind those people, I would have given them money or bought some fresh fruit for those children.”
Donating to charities for those less fortunate than ourselves is a good thing, but seeing hunger face-to-face is very different.
As I opened my car door, I noticed the woman using a windshield cleaner to wash the side of a very old looking SUV with a dent in its side. I thought to myself, “I really need to go to the carwash to get my own car cleaned.” As I drove away, I saw the little children looking out the windows watching their mother. I immediately chastised myself, thinking I had missed an opportunity to offer help to people in dire need.
My initial thought was to help that family, but very soon, thoughts about myself took precedence. We read about hungry children and families, but many of us might not see them in our lives. Donating to charities for those less fortunate than ourselves is a good thing, but seeing hunger face-to-face is very different. I found it shocking, and for a few minutes, I could only look. It was as if my mind could not process what I was seeing.
As I drove away, I saw the little children looking out the windows watching their mother. I immediately chastised myself, thinking I had missed an opportunity to offer help to people in dire need. Share on X
I have worried about that family ever since. Because it was a Friday, with school not in session, I suppose those children did not get food that weekend they usually get in school on Fridays and maybe snacks to take home as I hear some schools provide.
Why didn’t I stop when she was cleaning their vehicle and offer help? Why didn’t I act quickly? I may never see them again in person, but I will think of them continually as well as others who are poor and hungry.
I ask all readers to be alert for help you might offer and act quickly as I did not. I plan to do so in the future. Some people might refuse our help but I know, by their appearance and demeanor, the family I saw that Friday would have welcomed it.
