As we arrived, I handed her a twenty, and asked her to please hurry. (normally I stress "only what you need") I watched many people come and go from the discount craft store and hoped no one saw me sans make-up and bra sitting in my car. As my little darling emerged from the store and I approached the entrance, she was laden with two large bags. She threw them in the back, told me she found what she needed to complete the project AND they had some pillows on sale she needed to finish ANOTHER project. Mom is quietly rolling her eyes~Hey, she's a GOOD kid!

About this time, a compact sized truck pulled up in front of my vehicle ~ two men were inside. The driver parked the truck, got out and approached me. He held his hands, palm upward, away from his body. He wasn't a large man, I would say mid-thirties, and looked tired but not unkept. I lowered the window (all the while my daughter is saying "Mom! keep going!")

As the man came closer, he had an apologetic look on his face. I could tell he was embarassed. "Ma'am? My elderly uncle and I need to get to Austin tonight and we don't have any way to purchase gas. Now I'm not asking for your money, we don't want money to buy drugs or even food; we need gas and lots of it because that is a far way to go."

I stuttered ... knowing I had left my purse with my credit cards at home, and my daughter had just told me she spent all but a few dollars of the $20 ... "but I don't have any money to give you".

He reiterated that he didn't want my money. He wanted to give me his tools, anything he had if I would put gas in his truck. The look on his face told me he was an honest man .... or at least his sincerity spoke to my heart. I knew I had to help him. I asked him to stay right there, I would be right back.

In retrospect that was my mistake. I should have told him my intentions, I didn't. I ran to the nearest grocery store and cashed the spare check I always carry in my billfold. I returned only moments later to the parking lot .... and he was gone. I kept remembering the bible verse in Hebrews (13:2) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have enteretained angels without knowing it. I wanted so badly that night to help the man. Something was tugging at my heart ~ and I had to explain to my daughter that, yes, you need to be cautious ~ but sometimes, good things can come from helping others. I can only hope someone filled up his tank ~ and that some good did come of his situation.