A lot of the times when less fortunate people are in need, there are those kind-hearted individuals who will step up and do what it takes to help said people. Sometimes it's the homeless, sometimes it's foster children or orphans, sometimes it's the poor, sometimes it's those who are victims of something and live in shelters, sometimes it's those dying or suffering from terminal illness as well as their families. The list could go on for ages, if I'm being completely honest, because there are so many people in this world who could use the help of others in more ways than we could ever think possible.
Recently, I heard the story of a young woman in Walmart who was sandwiched between two parties. The party in front of her was a mother who had two children who looked like her with three dark haired children who looked nothing like her. She was trying to buy clothes for the three dark haired children since they were in shorts and flip flops and the weather was frigid. Behind this young woman was the second party comprised of a couple dressed quite well, saying rude comments about the mother being rung out -- how the three children showed her no resemblance and how she must be using a food stamp card as well.
Growing more and more annoyed by the peanut gallery behind her, the young woman stepped forward to help the mother who was struggling with her food stamp card. When the young woman asked, the mother explained how she was a new foster parent and some things weren't making the most sense to her. With a smile, the young woman told her new friend how she was a mother of nine because she was a foster mom too.
After the mother had given her three children their new coats, she took her things and left the store. Once she was out of earshot, the young woman turned to the couple behind her and explained that the woman they were making fun of was a new foster mother and the children she had with her didn't have any other clothes. This made the couple clearly uncomfortable on account of they left that checkout line to join another one in silence. Even the cashier had felt for the new foster mother since she too was a single foster mother herself.
This incident made me realize that even though all we hear on the news is tragedies -- people getting killed, planes crashing or disappearing all together -- there is still good in this world. Unfortunately, those are the stories that will never be broadcasted. However, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be kind to others just because no one will hear about it. That doesn't mean we shouldn't help because it won't give the local newsrooms any ratings.
There are so many people in this world who could afford some compassion, so why shouldn't we extend a helping hand? Let us be the change we wish to see in the world, and before we know it, we will be on our to make this world a better place.
