I had made a
promise to myself that blogging would become a regular occurrence in order to
share my experiences and motivate others. Life sometimes gets in the way as
kidding season became crazy and cheese makes during the week became
overwhelming. We make a living but by no means are rich. We are lucky when we
take three steps forward financially we only take two back. This is a blessing
that more of us should celebrate instead of worrying about that new cool gadget
we can’t afford or our friend that shows it off gloating but can’t afford it either.
Where am I going with this you ask? Think about the 20 dollar bill, something
common in many people’s wallets. Today 20 dollars can buy a trip to the movies
(just the movie), maybe a 1/3 tank of gas in my truck, the most awesome tacos
from the taco stand down the road or a bag of feed and bale of hay for my goats.
The other day, as I do at least once a week, I headed to the bank to make a
deposit of the checks received from the various restaurants as well as money
earned at the weekend farmers market. As I was making the deposit, the screen
asked if I wanted any cash. I suddenly felt the need to get a little, not
something I commonly do. Continuing with my afternoon, I needed to make a stop
at the local store for some needed household supplies. After parking and as I
walked from my truck a young man and lady approached me in their car. This is
something not uncommon in the in parking lots in this particular neighborhood,
but something struck me strange about this couple. He rolled his window down
and spoke saying, “I am sure this won’t do any good but my wife and I are short
$5 for a hotel, we have tried to sleep in the back of our car and it is just
too hot and we are on our way to Austin as I am looking for a job”. This was
definitely a plausible story given the state of today’s economy but my parents
and life experience definitely instilled a level of distrust in me for such
situations. I began to quiz him on his plight and he continued to explain about
his lack of gasoline and bad tire. I walked around the car to verify his story
and found it true. As I peered into his eyes it struck me that this man was
begging not out of need for the next bottle or fast food burger but out of
actual need. All he wanted to do was get to Austin and find a job. He said he
spent an hour at another location only to receive a dollar. He was definitely
discouraged. For the first time in years I felt I must give. I reached in my
pocket and handed him a 10 dollar bill. He was shocked; he said “I only asked
for $5.” I told him he needed it. He began to shed a tear and I noticed his
wife was tearing up as well. I then reached in my pocket and handed him a 20
dollar bill. This man, who laid aside all pride and lowered himself to the
lowest of levels of humanity in order to beg for the basic of needs, continued
to tear up with a look of shock. He quickly introduced himself and began
thanking me vigorously. I handed him my business card identifying myself. He
said” all I want is a job that is all I want.” I wished him luck as he
continued to thank me and told him if he came back through to stop off I might
have work for him in the future. He swore he would pay me back one day which I
responded to him “don’t’ worry about it just move yourself forward.” As I
walked in the store I regretted not giving him more or giving him a job. As
farmers we complain about the weather, or government regulations or bad sales
or something, yet we forget to look at the blessings all around us. Making
fabulous cheese, seeing the look of satisfaction on the chefs faces, receiving
compliments from customers at the farmers market or getting that unsolicited
email from a purchaser raving about our cheese cannot be discounted, but there
is nothing like the feeling of giving to someone in need. We may not have much
but that man had nothing. I don’t know why and don’t need to know, I just know
they were in need and I had the ability to give. Maybe we should focus more on
the blessings we do have not what we don’t. We spend so much time envying what
other have and wanting more, we forget what is important in our lives. Maybe if
we prioritize our lives for what is actually important that might just motivate
more of us to share our blessings with others. Imagine the impact we would see
in our country if more of us adopted this practice.