An Unknown Story

Everybody has a story.

A beginning and an end.

Sometimes it is joyful and sometimes sad.

Sometimes easy and sometimes hard.

Sometimes obvious

and 

Sometimes hidden.

Today the story of three somebodies that I know nothing about wrecked me completely.

I drove by twice.

One woman long stringy blond hair.

Sunken, sad eyes.

Exhausted features.

Sloppy clothes and a coat that was far too big.

Two small versions of herself playing in the bark dust of a grocery store.

A sign pleading for help.

A safe place to lay her head with her babies.

As I drove by, my own life slowed down and her face etched in  my mind.

I texted my friend asking what I could do.

She suggested whatever I do don't give cash.

As I bought groceries for my family I also bought some for her.

For her children.

Simple food just enough that she could carry.

When I left the store she was gone.
I was disappointed thinking I should have hurried and gotten what I wanted for her then returned to the store for my own family.
As I turned the corner to leave

I saw her again.
She had moved to maybe what she had hoped would be a more lucrative spot.

When I stopped to give her the bag of groceries.

She reached out her dirty hand letting go of her sign and said
"That's really cool"

Her kids..

They jumped up and down cheering 

"FOOD! FOOD!"

They were no older than 5 and they were cheering for food.

They already know the feeling of desperation
They probably know what it feels like to have the burning pain of hunger as they close their eyes and drift off to sleep.
Waking up still hungry.

Their mom.. She might even go without so they don't have to.

I realize in this jaded world that this mom might be a 

scammer, a drug addict or someone who works the system.

She might not be though.

She might be a battered mom who's children have watched her be hit.

She might be someone who has been abused all her life.

She might just be down on her luck.

I don't care what she is.

 For one second when I reached out my hand and our eyes locked

She knew someone cared.

Someone thought of her.

Someone thought of her kids.

For a few hours the burning pain of hunger in those babies bellies went away.

I hope they smiled when they drank their chocolate milk or crunched their way through an apple.

When I drove away

I cried.

I cried because 

I am a mom
  I know what it feels like to tuck my babies into their warm bed snuggled in jammies with mountains of pillows and blankets

while the whirl of the furnace fills the silence in the room
wondering if I did my best for them in that day.

I can't imagine what it feels like for my kids to be cold and hungry and for their backyard to be

the bark pile at a grocery store.

The burden must be heavy.

This mom has stayed with me all day.

I wanted to go and pick her up and take her somewhere.

Anywhere.

All day I have prayed.

I've prayed that she is safe.

That her kids are safe.

I've prayed that she knows that she is loved.

We live in a world of excess where nothing is ever good enough.

We complain that we don't have the latest and greatest cell phone, fancy boots, or another warm coat.
We complain about our jobs and the long hours.
Our homes are too small or too big.

I do it all the time.

Today my biggest decision wasn't if I could feed or keep my kids warm.

It was if I should stay at work and get a massage or go do chores.
I get to sit down once a month and pay all our household bills at one time

with money left over for food, dinners out and new shoes.

I get to take my kids on week long camping trips in a travel trailer that sits empty most of the year.

I get to take my kids to the happiest place on earth soon.

And yet I still find things to complain about.

We all at some point have had or will have struggles.
 I bet that right now at least one person we know of is on the edge of being one of the people wondering if they are going to have enough food to make it another day.
Praying for payday.
Trying to work up the courage to go to the food bank or ask for help.

I hope that I have eyes to see what I saw today everytime I see it.
I hope I see a person.
Not a scammer or a drug addict
A person.
I don't have to be happy with the choices they make.
I just have to be happy with the choices that I make and the choices that we are teaching our kids to make..

I hope as the month of thanks continues and the celebration of Christmas approaches that
kinder
more gentle hearts
emerge.
A small gesture of kindness could be the one thing that gives hope to someone
If even for just a moment.

Blessed is me..