Giving Back

So many people lost their jobs this year.  So many people lost their homes and their way of life.  It's hard to imagine what it must be like going home unsure of whether you have a meal or not, or worse, having children and not being able to feed them.

For those of us who are left with jobs, we all too often get so immersed in our own little world that we fail to recognize the challenges that we would have to deal with had we assumed the same fate that others did.  Ultimately, we forget how vulnerable we are.  We may be lucky right now, but even that could change instantaneously!  The reality of it is that we are all at the mercy of the economy and sometimes, no amount of hard work can shield us from the impact of these harsh conditions.

While grocery shopping a couple of weeks ago, the fish vendor at Seafood City (a Filipino grocery store) came up to me and asked if I had old baby clothes that my baby is no longer using.  She obviously saw me pushing Lucas in a stroller and she said she has a small baby who could use some clothes.  My initial reaction was to think "did she really just ask me that? what is she doing asking strangers/customers for clothes?"  So I replied "yeah, maybe I have some old clothes but I'm actually not from here.  I live far away."  This happened in a city called Vallejo, where so many Pinoys live.  It's a 30-minute drive from my place.

She responded, "I see.  That's fine.  Thank you!" and she gave me a genuine smile.  What was I thinking?  For someone to have the guts to come up to a stranger like that and ask for things is a sign of desperation.  And she wasn't doing it for herself, she was doing it for her baby.  Shame on me!  I am a mom too and I should have known that a mom would do anything for her child. 

I was so stricken with guilt!  I went back to her and said "you know what, this is a short drive from my place and yes--I do have old baby clothes and you can have them!"  Her eyes lit while she exclaimed "Really?! You'll remember?!"  Yes, I will remember!  I took her name--Paula, and her work schedule, and I will go back there soon and bring her baby some clothes.

I vowed to give back for all the blessings I have received, and I'm done making excuses.  Sometimes it's easy to say "I want to do something for others but I don't have the time or the energy or the resources to help".  Oh yes, we do!  A few little things here and there--a couple of hours of volunteer work, giving away usable clothing and shoes, a $10-bag of pancake mix that will adequately feed 200 children back home--these little things can go the extra mile and make a whole lot of difference!

Christmas is over, but it's never too late to give back.  So please do....IF you haven't already. 


Photo (grabbed from my dad's FB account):  Just some of the kids that my parents fed last Christmas.  We gave them money to buy themselves the Christmas gifts that they want, but instead they bought lots of bread, pancit and fried chicken and fed the poor families in their hometown of Loon, Bohol.  So proud of them...