When was the last time you reached out?
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008The last time hubby and I came home to the Philippines, we decided to pass by the Adoration Chapel in our Parish Church before going to the mall. Just when we were about to leave, an old lady quietly approached us and handed us a crumpled letter, asking us to open and read it. It was basically a solicitation letter, stating the old lady’s medical condition and asking from financial assistance to whoever can afford it.
My husband and I gave her 50 bucks. We were thinking that she is old, and she really looks frail, and if ever she does not use it for medicine, she would probably use it for food. For us, whether or not she is telling the truth, our conscience are clear. She smiled, thanked us and left.
On the last day of our vacation, just before we leave for the airport, I had to pass by the drugstore to purchase some baby vitamins for a friend here in Kuwait. I saw the same lady at the counter. She was counting her 5 peso and 10 peso coins and the pharmacist was patiently waiting for her to finish. I got curious, so I greeted her. She remembered me and thanked me again since she said that was the biggest amount that anybody can give her. She didn’t ask me to give her more money, nor did she imply anything with regards to that…It was actually a short conversation. The pharmacist handed her only one small tablet, which made me ask him “Just one tablet?!”, “That’s all she can afford ma’am…”
I don’t remember how much I gave to the pharmacist, I think it was more or less 500 bucks, and instructed him to give her more of those tablets within that amount and to give the change to the old lady. I didn’t wait, I left after that, but it was one of the happiest moments of my life…And if I had more with me, I would have given more…
Imagine being deprived of food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water and all other common necessities…
Extreme poverty. A terrifying thought isn’t it?
Children being forced to work at a very young age, just so they can have something to eat, not being able to get a chance to have proper education. Mothers who cannot give anything else to their children but sugar water. Families who live in the street, with nothing but cardboard boxes or hugs plastic bags to protect themselves from the rain. People with serious illnesses or the elderly, like that old lady, not being able to get proper medical attention because they cannot afford it at all.
Do you remember the last time u did something for these people?
