Something special happened today! A young man with a bulging knapsack behind his back. Wearing a pair of dirty shorts and flip-flops pass by the auto repair shop where I work. He was looking for a canteen with an empty container of bottled water in his hands. 

We don’t have a canteen and there’s not one near us within a quarter of a kilometer radius. I thought “you can’t deny a man water” so I asked if he is looking for water to drink? let me fill her up for you I offered! 

The young man’s hands were shaking. His legs are shaking and he speak so low I can’t hear anything he’s saying. I gave him his water and he sat at the gutter and took a long hard drink! 

A co-worker remarked that the young man seemed nuts but most of us thought it is hunger that made him act like that so I went to get the lunch pack my wife prepared and gave it to the lad.The young man won’t accept it! He said what about you? What will you have for lunch? But I insisted and told him that he doesn’t have to worry about me, that because the food is for him and he’s got to eat! He finally accepted and I left him to himself  so he can eat and rest.

After a while he came to say thank you! And we  talked while my co -workers listen. We learned that he’s from an island easily 4-5hours drive away from where we stand . He left because his uncle kicked him out of the house. He has been walking for a week already and hasn’t had anything to eat for last 2 days and he is on his way to his mom who lives another 4 hours drive away.

When I realized that the young lad is going to walk for another week to get to his mom I went for my pocket to give what little I can so he can at least have some food for the travel. That’s when I saw my co-workers chipping-in with what little they can and handed it to me. “Here, tell him to take the bus and go his mom. He will be home before night fall.” 

That felt so nice! We gave the lad the fare money with the little spare for food but not without much prodding. We put the money in his hands and told him “you need that! take it! and go see your mom!”.  You can see it in his face,  he’s ready to cry but tried hard to keep his composure. He accepted the money and made the sign of the cross. 

An act of kindness from people with little purse and a touch of God’s love the young lad must have felt.

To God be the glory!