Some believe there are angels among us. I never really gave it any thought B.H. (before heroin). But my son is alive today through the immeasurable kindness of strangers. The people who gave him a dollar, a sandwich, a smile, or a hand up are many. I will never be able to express my gratitude to the good people along the way to rock bottom who tried to break the fall. I'm especially grateful to the ones who did not judge.My son has told me of kind strangers who saw a terribly troubled soul and reached out. I would like to acknowledge a few who easily could have averted their eyes, and walked on.
Thank you stranger in Michigan, for calling that ambulance.
Thank you Arizona State Trooper who bought my son a Big Mac, got my phone number from him, drove him to a treatment facility, and then called me to tell me where my boy was.
Thank you lovely woman in Riverside, California who let a dirty, stoned boy use her cell phone to call home, and then gave him $5.
Thanks to the man in Utah who bought himself a coffee and donut, saw my son, and without a word handed it to him.
And to the special stranger in downtown Detroit: You saw my son walking down the cold, winter street. It was 16 degrees, -3 windchill; he had no hat, gloves, decent shoes, nothing but cotton pants and a sweatshirt. You pulled your car along side him, and got out. Andrew was confused, and wary, expecting you to taunt or hurt him. You took off your coat, held it out to him. "You need this more than I do, brother," you said. Then you got in your car and drove away.
Be you angels or mortals, you have taught me I must pass it on.
7 thoughts:
This has really touched my heart. So many times, people have given me a difficult time when I handed a buck or bought a cup of coffee for someone on the street. They would tell me, "he is probably an addict and will go buy drugs anyway". My answer has always been, "Maybe it will be my son out there who needs the buck or cup of coffee" and I hope some stranger opens their heart enough to give it to him. I also salute all those strangers who extended a hand to my son when everyone else turned their backs and pretended he did not even exist.
Hello. I just found your blog via Pat's blog Child Lost.
This post really grabbed me in the gut and made me tear up. Not only is it beautiful that those people did those things, but I think it is lovely that you made a point of thanking them, even if they will never know.
My husband worked in South Dallas for years and he always gave out any change he had.
This post touched my heart.
This post brought me tears...
Yes, there are angels walking among us.
I'm sitting here crying my face off...there are good people (angels?) out there.
There is no necessary ingredient for a persons generosity. There is only the rule of give as you can, when you can. It makes little difference what the recipient of the gift is going to do with the thing given for it is a kindness and in that there is only one thing to do and that is accept it.
Once the gift is given it no longer belongs to the giver.
There are yet some among us in this cynical world who realize that by being kind, they have improved the worlds chances of survival by a thousandfold.
There is no thanks enough for these souls and if found out, they would simply say "it was the right thing to do."
And in giving to the one who has a need of the moment they are showing them that hope is not lost and more importantly that they still yet rest in the eye of God. Which once seen is the greatest of all gifts one human can give to another.
But then what do I know...I am only a poet.
A beautiful blog and thank you for sharing it with all of us. May we all learn that a small act of kindness can make a large impact on those around us. I would very much like to repost this on my blog site, if I have your permission.....much love to you!
Post a Comment