A Moment That Changed My Life

--by voyager950, posted Mar 20, 2011

My wife and I were on our weekly Wal-Mart trip when I noticed a young man standing at the traffic light holding a handwritten cardboard sign that read, "Hungry, Please Help." My heart started to hurt -- I have seen people in need before holding hand-made signs all over town asking for a job, food, money, etc. I guess I just never paid any attention before, shame on me.

We got through the checkout lane, and I walked over to the McDonalds's inside the store. My wife said to me, "You want McDonald's, I thought we were going to eat at Wendy's?" since we usually stop at Wendy's or Arby's for a quick bite to eat during our weekly trips. I replied, "It's not for me." I bought some food, and a bottle of cold water (it was really hot and humid out), and I noticed that this young man looked very hot as well. So my wife continued to question what I was doing, and then it dawned on her that it was for the young man holding the sign at the traffic light. She immediately smiled and didn't say another word.

I was in the passenger seat, and when we got to the intersection, I called the young man over to the car and handed him the bag with the food and cold bottle of water. I smiled and said, "Here -- my wife and I want you to have this," and he eagerly accepted it, thanking us both. As we started to drive away, I yelled back, "May God bless you," the whole time fighting back tears. He was so young, he was thin, and looked like he had been through so much. I looked over at my wife; she was praying, I joined in, and we both started crying.

At that moment, my life was changed, I knew that I had to do whatever I could to make sure that I could help as many people as possible in this life and that's what I have been doing.

3312 Reads

Posted by voyager950
Mar 20, 2011
Comments (10)

Readers Comments

etseth wrote: Well done my HO friend..
People often make the assumption that cash would be spent on drink or drugs by these people,giving the food cuts out all such things,and cuts out the awkwardness that they might face going into food places..
Loving your work,keep it up.
Blessings.

JuneBug wrote: Your post brought tears to my eyes...Thank you for listening to that inner voice !

Bluebell wrote: Thank you for sharing your story and for listening your heart, you and your wife are a beautiful couple of angels. Endless blessings for you and for those you meet in your life journey. Love and Light and a Thousand Smiles, Bluebell

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: Bless you for being so kind. Small acts of kindness make a big difference. Keep up the great work!

Gilgenbach wrote: Your kindness brought tears to my eyes. So many people would have (and probably did) pass by. I pass people with signs too. Shame on me for being so suspicious of others. I could at least buy them a meal. As jesus said, a cup of water given in his name is done as unto him.

May god bless you for your kindness.

~g.

bilal wrote: God help those who help others.

chad wrote: Good for you!

AnnieJ wrote: It's the little things that make all the difference. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to a stranger in need!

oldgirl wrote: A wonderful and kind gesture from both you and your wife voyager950. The water in particular would have been most welcome as well as the food.

It takes a lot of courage to bare your soul to strangers and that is what this young man did with his sign. Thank you for sharing this story and recognising that you could help this young man.

gorio wrote: Pannnnnnncccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttt

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