Just a Little Tale for Those Who Need Help

Happy Tuesday to all.  Hope this finds you all well and safe.  We have been enjoying fall like weather the last few days!  They say more summer comes back tomorrow for a few days - then cooler by a bit again.  Highs around 80*F - lows in 50's & 60'.  NICE!

You can definitely tell that fall is coming.  Everywhere you walk you walk into a spider web!  Daylight hours are getting shorter - later in the morning and earlier in the evening.  Not only do I hear cicadas, but lots of crickets too!

There are times when things get tough for everyone at some point in life.  So many people hate to ask for help, and many others hate to accept help.  I can understand that.

I want to relay a little story that happened a couple weeks ago.  I am telling this to help someone else.  I am in NO way looking for praise or attention for myself.  So please don't - that is not the purpose.  The purpose is to make people more aware.

I went very early to the store.  I tend to go early to avoid the crowds.  I was about done, when I came upon an older gentleman who caught my attention.

He was standing in front of the eggs - looking at his hands.  He had a dollar bill and change in his hand.  He had tears coming down his face.

I asked him if he was OK - and he said he wasn't sure what to do.  He said his daughter had been arrested the night before for driving on a suspended license, and he had his 2 grandkids for that day (Sunday) and into the next day.  He was hoping to get them some breakfast items.  He had very little money.  He explained he lived on S.S. and just didn't have much available right now.

I told him to walk with me.  I put the eggs in my cart and told him I would pay for them.  I also got him some milk, sausage, and asked if the kids liked pizza.  We got 2 fresh - to bake ones.  As we walked, we talked.  He told me his story and it broke my heart.  He was such a nice man.  He told me he would give me what he had in his pocket to help, and I told him to keep it - he may need for something else.

We chatted at the checkout and talked and laughed with the clerk.  No one knew we weren't together.

After we got outside, he cried and cried.  He told me God had sent me to help that morning.  I cried too.  He needed help and didn't want to ask, and didn't know who to ask.  He was reluctant at first to accept the help.  His words to me were profound.  "It is very easy to give, but so hard to receive".  Aint that the truth?  We tend to forget that.  He said he had been on both ends.  I told him to just take care of those babies while he could, and someday he could pass it on to someone else.  He gave me a hug and left.

I spent $20 that day on those items, and it was the best $20 I have spent in a long time.  So appreciated.

My moral to the story is - don't forget that people are proud.  Don't forget that when times get tough, some folks don't know where to turn.  Don't forget it is hard to ask for or accept help.  Don't forget to treat people with kindness.  Don't forget to be a good neighbor.

IF you need help, ASK.  Go to the local food pantries if needed.  Go to whatever agency you need to.  When an unexpected moment happens (like this one), just let someone know.  There are people out there that are glad to help.  Never be so proud that your children do without.

I know not everyone believes as I do, but I believe God puts us where we need to be, when we need to be there (on both sides).  There are no accidents!  We just need to pay attention.

We are all citizens of this big old rock we live on - help each other!

May you all have a wonderful and joyful day!