FAITH IN HUMANITY

(sigh)

One day last fall when I was tutoring for the literacy program, I was in the library on my usual Monday afternoon meeting with my student. As I was leaving, a man with a young boy approached me and politely asked me if I could possibly let him "borrow" $10 so he could get food for the child. I'm usually not inclined to cater to this, but there was something about these two that struck a chord. I handed over $10 and went on my way.

You're thinking exactly what I thought. I'd never see the $10 again and HOPEFULLY some of it would indeed go for food for the young boy.

The following Monday afternoon when I was again in the library, this same man and child approached me once again. "Great," I thought. "He's going to ask me for $10 every Monday."

Wrong.

The man, noticeably cleaner, shoved out his palm and handed me $10. "Ma'am, we were hoping you'd be here again today. I told you I just wanted to borrow the money. I bought my son a happy meal, got a shower and found a job that I started the next day. We won't forget your kindness."

I was speechless. I shouldn't have been, but I was. Shame on me for sure.

(sigh)