I did it!

I was browsing the Internet when I came across a comment that said, “Today, do something thoughtful for someone at random.” I kept thinking about this statement and how I could fulfill this obsessive-compulsive disorder that had manifested inside of me. Since I was premeditating, the deed wouldn’t be random. 

When I reduced speed to let another motorist merge into my lane, was that a thoughtful deed? When I held the door open for my coworker, was a thoughtful random deed?  When I agreed to buy dinner for my mother, was that thoughtful and random?

When I allowed the driver to merge in front of me, I did it because there was police activity in the lane he was traveling in and needed to move; that was the road code. You see, holding a door for someone to me is the right thing to do. It was instinctive, so that did not count. Agreeing to buy dinner for my mother was the least I could do because she was taking care of my child while I was at work.

Throughout the day, I looked for the opportunity to do a thoughtful deed, but nothing seemed random. So, feeling defeated, I gave up the idea. My day went on uneventful then it was time to go home. Songs after songs blasted from the radio. Hollywood Hamilton on 103.5 KTU radio accompanied me as we cruised along the highway in joyous singing.

It was a few minutes after five, and the sun was saying its goodbye to us. Its warmth caressed my face as I turned away to exit from the highway.  The traffic lights had turned red, and I was about three cars away when I saw him.

His silhouette looked like a four feet gnome. He was wearing dark-colored pants with a gray sweater with the hood on his head and a black jacket. He leaned on a walker, the one that had a seat and wheels, and in his hands was a placard, with words written in bold letters that read, HUNGRY PLEASE HELP. I was so excited; this was it, my chance to do something thoughtful and random. I grabbed my phone to document the deed and pressed record.

I didn’t have any food to give him as was his appeal, so I decided to give him money to help to buy the food he needed. Here was my opportunity to satisfy my obsessive thought. I had to move quickly before the lights changed, and I missed the moment, so I grabbed my bag to get my purse, but I only saw a twenty-dollar bill. I cannot give him $20.  

You see, I’ve seen this man here before with that same poster; so, it was hard for me to accept that he was hungry. He wanted our money. He used being hungry as leverage for us to give him money. How many of us would have food in our vehicles to offer? We need food to survive, and many of us knew what it felt like to be hungry, so we felt compelled to give him the benefit of the doubt and help him, and he did write, please.

A hand reached out from a car, and he moved closer and took something, not food. The light was still red, and I was scavenging through my wallet and bag. I should have more money because I received change from a purchase I made during lunchtime at the grocery store. He must have seen me looking for something because he started moving forward.

Then the lights turned green. What was I going to do? I opened the compartment of the hand rest, and there was my change $2.76 still wrapped in the receipt.

I took the coins and the receipt, put down the window, and as a baton exchanged in a relay race, I handed him one dollar. He took it and said, “Thank you, God blesses you!”

I answered, “You too!”  And I drove off. Through my rearview mirror, I saw him put the money in his pocket and walked back to his spot by the lights where he waited for them to turn red, again.

I felt relieved. I had satisfied my compulsive need to do something thoughtful for someone at random. That was my kind deed for the day, and it felt good because I did it from my heart, at random.

Here is your challenge; take a moment and do something good for someone at random. Comment below and tell me your story!

Ok, I said it!