Give Without Being Asked

They were outside the local grocery store, sitting on the ground beside the soda machines.  She looked young, but her face was hard around the eyes.  He was probably just as young as she, but had grown facial hair to try to look older.  Their dog kept a watchful eye over their backpacks full of worldly possessions.  They watched the shoppers go in and out of the grocery store, but looked away when someone returned their gaze.

I walked past them as I went into the store, my head full of my own worries.  I registered that they were probably homeless or at least traveling to their next home on foot, but I went on in to do my shopping.  I was thinking about the heat pump I had to buy just days before Christmas, days before my vacation.  I was wondering where the money would come from, how I was going to make it all happen.

I did my grocery shopping in a rush and loaded everything into the car.  When I turned the key in the ignition, I was grateful that the vents were still blowing warm air onto my cold face.  I was happy that even if there wasn’t heat at home, there was heat in the car.  And that’s when it clicked in my head.  It was cold outside and those two kids (I’m someone’s mom, I’m past 30, I can call them kids) were sitting on the frigid ground.

The couple wasn’t asking anyone for money, but you could feel the yearning coming off of them in waves…the yearning for somewhere warm to sit, something hot to eat.  I have been without a home in my adult life, and I have been without a dollar in my pocket…and I would never have begged or asked for anyone’s help.  I would’ve sat silently in the cold, just like the two kids and their dog on this day.

So I went for my wallet and got out all the cash I had, just two five dollar bills.  I thought about putting one bill back so I’d have something for later, but I had a car and I had a home–even though my house was as cold as the outdoors, I had a house to call my own.  I turned off the car, took both five dollar bills and approached the couple.

“Hey, I know you’re not asking for anything, and I don’t want to assume, but I’d like to give you money for lunch.  And if you don’t need the money for lunch, please buy a special treat for your dog,” I said, and I held out the money.

The young man took the bills, nodded and said, “It helps, every bit helps on the road.”

The woman whispered something that sounded like “oh thank God for you.” 

I patted their dog on the head and went back to my car, drove away and went back to my life.

In looking back, I think the whole scene is something I wanted to share because as we move toward a new year, I’d like to ask you all to give without being asked.  That couple didn’t ask me for anything, but I knew in my gut that I should offer.  They shouldn’t have to ask–I can look upon them, or anyone in that situation, and know with simple human compassion that I should give.  Pay it forward, and do something kind and good just because you can.  It doesn’t have to involve giving money; hold the door open for someone else, listen to someone who needs to talk, tell the cashier at Home Depot that her smile made your day.

We all have something, even on our darkest, brokest day, to offer to someone else.  Share what you have.  May your new year be full of blessings.