The Sight Of A Homeless Man

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

It was a busy day for me; I had a lot of tasks to do. However, such day may not occur again so I decided to take my children out for a walk. As soon as I told them about it, they started jumping out of happiness and ran to their rooms to change. On our way to the garden, we saw little bees, butterflies, and other insects fly among the flowers in search of food. The flowers were brightly dyed with every possible combination of colors and shades. Going out for a walk in such a day makes you forget all of your worries and tasks.

The sight of a homeless man sitting under the shade of a tree got my attention. He was sitting with a box in front of him and a skinny dog lying next to him. I’m not the kind of people who like helping others; this trait has always been in me. People all around me criticize me about it but some say it is a good trait, for I concentrate more on my children, my husband, and myself. Anyone could notice how dirty his skin and clothes were. His hair was matted and his beard was scraggly. He looked like he was in his early forties. Nobody was stopping for him; I could see how drivers and jugglers took one look as they passed by and then focus at something else. I noticed how tired and exhausted he was. His eyes indicated that he hadn’t slept well since a very long time. He looked like a living corpse.

I reached down into my pocket and got out ten bucks. Sam knew what I was about to do so he asked "Can I give it to him, mom?" I was scared at the beginning but then I gave Sam the money and told him to be careful. I watched Sam as he walked toward the homeless man. The dog snapped as Sam got closer, and the homeless man stood up when he saw Sam approaching him. He took the money from Sam and then said a couple of words with a smile. I could see the joy in both Sam’s and the homeless man’s eyes. I was proud of myself and satisfied with what I had done. "I’ve done the right thing, he will be having a decent meal today" I said to myself. Sam came running back to me and when I looked at him I felt how sad his eyes were. "What happened? Weren’t you just smiling while talking to the guy over there?" I asked. "Mom! His dog seems so sick and hungry! He is going to die!" My son exclaimed. I knew then I had to do something about it.

I asked my children to follow me and ran to the nearest store. I asked my children to search for some dog accessories while I buy him some food and drinks. I started then collecting different kinds of fruits and vegetables for him to stay healthy. I then went to the meat section to get him some beef, I was sure he hadn’t have any since a very a long time. Steve came to me holding a flavored-chew toy shaped like a bone, Sam came with a food and a water dish, and Jesse came with a big pack of dog food. On our way to the cashier, I took some bottles of water and some snacks.

We went back rushing to the spot we met the homeless man in; there he was sitting under the same tree. And still his box was empty and nobody was stopping for him. We went to him holding our bags with us. Honestly, I was afraid he is some kind of a drug-dealer or a serial killer; I was trembling and shaking. I looked into his blue eyes and saw him tearing. I felt so ashamed of myself for making such a judgment. I realized it was so long since anyone showed this man any care. I started showing him what we had brought from the market. He snatched the dish as if it was a treasure and filled it with the food Jesse brought. The dog ate everything while the man was still filling the other dish with water. He filled it again with food. He then looked at me and said "I really don’t know how to thank you" and then started to cry like a young boy. My eyes were tearing while looking at this "drug-dealer" crying. I approached him and gave him a hug.

I was crying the whole way back home, I looked back to see the homeless man hugging his dog and kissing him. Steve looked at me and said: "Mom, I really am happy"

It seemed like I helped him that day but the truth is that he was the one who helped me and gave me a priceless gift that I will never forget. He gave me a gift way much bigger than the one I gave him. He taught me that no matter what someone looks like from the outside; there is a human-being inside him or her that deserves to be treated with kindness and care. He changed the way I see life. He made me a better person.