The other day I was doing some grocery shopping and a man, who was unkempt and spent most of the time talking to no one in particular, walked toward a group of us at the checkout stand. I overheard him say to the man in front of me, "I don't wanna steal from this store...would you buy me some food?"
The man in front of me pretended not to hear him; it was as if he were invisible. I waited patiently for my turn to be questioned, but it never came. So I asked him, "Can I buy you something to eat?"
He gladly accepted. The man got a bag and began putting samosas in the bag. As my items were being rung up I watched the man put the samosas into the bag; 1, 2, 3... He finally stopped and I asked him how many h.jpg)
e had got and he replied 10.
The cashier looked at me quizzically and then added them to my order. After I was through, the man was wandering around the store; he said he wanted something to drink, too. The cashier seemed to be keeping a close eye on him. I admit I was too, as I didn't want him to steal anything either! I told the cashier that if he got a drink that I'd just pay for it.
In the end, we both ended up leaving the store, but he stood right outside holding the samosas and talking to himself. Or maybe he was talking with someone who he thought was there.
This man's circumstances saddened me. How many of our homeless also suffer from a mental illness? Maybe that's even what led him to be homeless. I also thought about the watchful eye the cashier and I kept over him. Maybe for different reasons, but still. I hope to run into him again someday...maybe we can sit down and have lunch together.
The man in front of me pretended not to hear him; it was as if he were invisible. I waited patiently for my turn to be questioned, but it never came. So I asked him, "Can I buy you something to eat?"
He gladly accepted. The man got a bag and began putting samosas in the bag. As my items were being rung up I watched the man put the samosas into the bag; 1, 2, 3... He finally stopped and I asked him how many h
e had got and he replied 10.The cashier looked at me quizzically and then added them to my order. After I was through, the man was wandering around the store; he said he wanted something to drink, too. The cashier seemed to be keeping a close eye on him. I admit I was too, as I didn't want him to steal anything either! I told the cashier that if he got a drink that I'd just pay for it.
In the end, we both ended up leaving the store, but he stood right outside holding the samosas and talking to himself. Or maybe he was talking with someone who he thought was there.
This man's circumstances saddened me. How many of our homeless also suffer from a mental illness? Maybe that's even what led him to be homeless. I also thought about the watchful eye the cashier and I kept over him. Maybe for different reasons, but still. I hope to run into him again someday...maybe we can sit down and have lunch together.
2315 Reads
- Posted by cyctw
- Feb 5, 2017
- Comments (10)
Readers Comments
healingtree wrote: I appreciate your helping that man. Helping him is. Helping all of us. Peace and light and always much love.
thewritestuffrva wrote: Many of us have no idea what it would be like to be in his shoes--and even more might not even try. Bless you for making a difference--who knows what ripples you caused in the universe?
horse-friend wrote: Thanks for being there and responding. Thanks for sharing.
splain wrote: Thank you, thank you and more thanks. That poor man has got a mental problem. you showed him care and kindness.
AndiCas wrote: Thank you for your compassion. It's so very sad.
melnotes wrote: Your compassion and understanding is awesome. Thank you for gesture of kindness :)
mindyjourney wrote: Thank you for feeding the man's hunger so compassionately ...there are many reasons...
KMbhai wrote: Thanks for your generosity.,
Mish wrote: A large portion of the homeless do suffer from mental problems, I have read. You have such a loving heart, cyctw. Bless you. â¤ï¸
leoladyc728 wrote: thank you for being so compassionate towards this man and getting him some food
