I saw him turn towards me after a glance over his shoulder. I pretended to be digging for something in my car but he was there by my window… I gave in. In broad daylight, I gave money to the man who asked me for some money at the gas pump. He took off his hat and said “I’m not a beggar. I’m a grandpa…blah blah” I said “I can give you $5.” He said he has a car a few blocks away and is trying to get to work.
Do not scold nor ask “What were you thinking?!” My typical response is to say “no.” But for some reason this time, another thought popped into my head. Every day I pray that I will be aware and willing to share my blessings when/how I can with whoever needs.
The Bible verse describing helping others immediately came to mind. “…the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.” Matthew 25:40
So I gave the man $5. I filled up my tank with more than $45 and didn’t think twice about it. I am blessed. I drove a few blocks then happened to look over at a shopping center with various stores and fast-food places. The man was strolling through the parking lot with his just-ordered sack of food from one of those places.
You can imagine my reaction. A part of me (the curious and confident part) wanted to turn around and go ask him what he got. Nothing violent or rude. Just to let him know I had seen him. Another part of me thought, “Nope, you shared a trivial amount of your daily blessing with that man. God wanted you to.” Another part of me imagined the many things he could have bought with that $5 and realizes lunch is something I don’t regret buying for someone. I am blessed.









