I leave 45 minutes before my shift when I close just to give myself enough time to find parking since people are ruthless. Luckily, I found parking within ten minutes of being there. I chilled in my car to just kill some time.
I then notice an African American woman walking around the lot. And I said to myself.. Aww man, it's another homeless person begging for money. She was talking to a lady a couple cars away from me and I began to gather my things, just in case she came tapping at my window and giving me her story. I got out of the car as fast as I could, walked off towards the entrance as fast as I could until I heard..
"Ma'am, excuse me. Ma'am"
She caught me. I turned around and there she was. She came up to me, showing me her identification in one hand and telling me that her and her daughter have been sleeping at the VTA station for the past four days waiting for a space at he domestic violence shelter nearby. In the other hand, she showed me her coins..majority of them being pennies. In my mind, I only have a dollar to give. But then she goes on to say, even if you don't have money, I'll take anything... food, maybe?
WIthout hesitation, I told her, food? Yeah, I can get you some food. Her eyes glowed with happiness and gratefulness. I walked with her into the mall. Her pace growing faster with excitement every minute. I was having a difficult time catching up. She kept telling me how grateful and what a blessing I was, her eyes swelling with tears. I tried my best holding my tears back. She asked me if I was shopping and I told her I was on my way to work, pointing to my store as we passed by. She stopped and started feeling bad.. "are you sure?!" I gave her smile and nodded. "No it's okay! It's not a problem"
As we got into the line, I told her to get whatever she wanted. And there it was again, that glow in her eyes. She grabbed a footlong, a soda, soup, and two bags of chips: for her and for her 8 year old daughter. As I finished paying, she gave me the tightest hug ever and I saw the happiness and relief in her eyes. "Oh, God is good. Thank you so much! My daughter's going to be so excited to know that her mama has food"
My heart was filled with joy that day. To see the strength she had really inspired me. You really won't know what people are going through until you listen. And I'm glad I turned back because moments like that leave an imprint in your heart forever. I'm not writing to gloat or brag. I'm writing for inspiration, a call for compassion. Because it really does make a difference.
blakekathryn
jacobvanloon
theartofmadeline
kianamaiart
