Let me share with you a story.
I just finished 3 gluta injections at a government office past 12noon and about to have lunch at a restaurant downtown. On my way to Midtown food palace, a young boy who seemed to look like a 9 or 10-year-old approached me and said, "auntie, I haven't had my lunch!". I looked at him quickly and said, "me, too!" as I rushed towards the entrance door. When I about to open the door, I stopped and made a very fast assessment on him. This young boy was a beggar. At a young age, he was on the street begging for money or for food for survival. On his big brown tee and cream shorts and dirty slippers, dirty teeth and unwashed hands, I can tell that he's out there to beg. I entered the restaurant and told him to come with me. He stopped and said, "I'm not allowed inside". True to his words, the waiter immediately stopped him at the door when he entered. I looked at the waiter and told him that the boy is with me. I immediately got the attention of everyone inside the resto. Everyone's eye was on me but I didn't care a bit. I proceeded to order. I asked the boy what he wants. He said, "ok na sakin ang dinuguan, auntie". I ordered his dinuguan, 2 cups of rice and beef steak for me, with a bottle of water each that cost me more than 200 pesos.
He sat down at a near vacant table for two waiting for me and our orders. As I sat down, I asked if he regularly beg at that area. He said yes but he's not from the city but from the nearby town. He needs to beg because his grandfather is only a fisherman and he has no other family to feed him neither one that would give him education. When our orders arrived, he started eating his rice but slowly eating his viand. Again, I asked who is with him at home. He said his father is with him but is busy. I started to notice the discrepancy in his story. He said he needs money so he could go home to Agoo. He said he needs to bring rice to his family. He said he don't have much clothes, actually only 2 t-shirts. He said his name was First John and his surname Milanes. I asked if his brothers name were second John or Third John. He laughed and said "I have none". I knew he is well versed with people, trying to convince us that he needs to be pitied so he can get money from bypassers like me. But do I care? I saw him finished his cup of rice in 5minutes but leaving 3/4 of his viand still intact. I asked if he wanted to bring that home and he said yes with an emphasis that he needs money to pay the bus for his fare so he could go home. It was only 1:15pm. I handed over 20pesos for a fare to Agoo, not knowing if that suffice. He was thankful and when we left the place, same eyes looked at him from head to toe as if they've seen a virus coming out from the dining area. Again, I shrugged it off. He went on his way to the south, said 'thank you' many times and me towards north to get a ride back home. As I sat down the tricycle, tears flowed my eyes as I remember a verse from the scriptures: "Inasmuch as you have done this to the least of these your brethren, you have done it unto me".
Money is scarce at the moment. I work hard to pay my bills, to bring my children to school, to meet our needs and find sufficient to get by every day. If I ignored the boy, I should have saved money for a meal for my family but will I go home joyous? Will be I happy telling my Father in Heaven that I accomplished something good today? Will I be worthy to ask some blessings if I myself didn't even give a second look at the boy? Will life be the same if I didn't learn a lesson today? I am sharing my story not to brag or to show off, but I wrote this story so we can bring our faith back to the goodness in humanity. I always believe that innate in us is kindness, goodness, charity and love towards people- towards our brothers and sister. We all have the ability to love and be "like God". That, what I believe!
Happy weekend everyone!
