I Was Approached By Someone Begging For Gas Money Yesterday [View All]

[NikolaC]

I just want to say that I am not much of a writer, unlike most of the people who post here regularly. I just wanted to share a story about what happened yesterday. My husband, son, mother, pregnant sister, her fiancé, his mother and aunt all decided to go baby shopping and out to lunch together. A little history: We are very close knit family who have been through a lot together over the past few years. My husband and I have been going through a difficult period financially – just like most people in this economy – because he is the only one working and I have been having difficulty finding a job. However, whenever we have even a couple of dollars available, we donate to supermarket food drives and charities whenever we can. We believe that, even though we are going through a difficult time, there are others who have it much worse and it is our responsibility to help in any way that we can. We believe in helping in any way that we can because there are so many in this world who are suffering due to the cruelty, selfishness, greed and lack of compassion on the part of so many. That is what my mother, who was poor growing up, taught my sister and me as we were growing up and that is what my husband and I are trying to teach our son. My mother and sister are two of the most giving, caring and nurturing people that I have ever met. They have been there for us during this tough time and we hope to one day return the kindess and support that has been given to us.

This brings me to my post. We were in the parking lot of the local Target yesterday, about to leave, when we were approached by a woman who was very apologetic, but looked very sad and desperate at the same time. She asked if we had a little change to spare because she worked at the local pet box store and did not have enough gas to get home, she could not afford to buy gas. This lady was on the verge of tears and had me on the verge of tears. My sister, in her kindness, had given me a little money for my “birthday”, just her way of helping us out again :-). So, I took $15 dollars from that money and give it to the lady. She was very grateful and asked to hug me and could barely contain her tears. I told her that the thanks were not necessary and she wished us a Merry Christmas and left. I am glad that we were able to help, but it just felt like it was not enough.

After we left, I was still crying because I could not help but think about all of the people that were in circumstances similar to the one that this lady was experiencing. People who may not have the backup of family who could help. How many people had she gone to who could not help her, who probably ignored or berated and judged her? Why is it necessary, in this day and age, for someone who is working to have to beg for gas money from strangers? It’s really heartbreaking and telling that we have leaders who are so out of touch, apathetic and full of greed that the pain of this woman and so many like her mean nothing to them while they continue to play their chess games. There is so much that could be done to help to ease the burden and suffering of the citizens of this country, much less the world, that is not being considered and are ignored. It is truly heartbreaking.