One cold night, we were going home from our relative’s house. We were tired and wanted to reach home quickly so that we could sleep in our warm beds. My sister had been cranky all this time, asking dad to get her some pizza fries. Dad didn’t want to go, but soon he gave in to her wailing and turned to a nearby fast food outlet.

After parking the car, we gave our order to the waiter and started chatting. Suddenly, my sister saw a family selling some toys placed on a cloth on the footpath. The family was made up of a mother, father and their little daughter. All of them were clearly feeling cold since they had no warm clothes and looked anxious sitting on the footpath.

We felt sorry for them, but since so many scams were happening to everyone these days, we were not sure if they were genuinely needy or professional beggars in the guise of sellers. So we shook the thought of them from our minds.

But my sister looked lost and she suddenly asked, “Dad, are they genuine sellers, I mean needy or the fraud ones?”

Dad thought for a second, and then said, “It feels like they are not frauds.”

Just then our order arrived, it was packed, so dad paid the bill and slowly drove past the family on the footpath.

After a few moments, my sister spoke, “Dad, can’t we buy some toys from them? I felt pity for them, especially for the little girl.”

“Oh, child!” dad said as he turned back the car towards the family and stopped.

My sister smiled and my father bought some toys that the family were selling. The man humbly said, “I was praying for someone to buy these, and you just came like an angel to help us. We will buy something to eat and go home, thank you so much, sir!”

My father thanked him, sat in the driving seat and drove the car. This whole incident gave all of us the feelings of happiness and satisfaction.

It was a little act of kindness from our side, but for that family, it meant at least a meal. If at that time my sister hadn’t said that or my father hadn’t turned the car, what would have happened? Perhaps a family would have gone to sleep on empty stomachs or perhaps someone kinder would have come to help them. But I am happy that God chose us to help them.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 24th, 2024