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Acts of kindness: An act that is not done because you believe you will get something in return but rather because it's the kind thing to do.

My mother , stepfather and I were coming from Walmart and we found an older gentleman on the intersection with a makeshift cardboard sign. He was holding it with old tired hands and a face that showed many years of sadness, wear and above all defeat. 

From the front seat of the car my mother who always so generously finds a reason to help says to my stepfather, we should get him something to eat. We all agree as car after car passes this old man without a care in the world. 

Soon enough we were crossing the street and pulling through a Mcdonalds where we were going to buy him two cheese burgers and a Large coke. We bought him the food without a second thought, myself thumbing through the extra money I have in my wallet. I began to think to myself, if they could give something I could too. I looked down at the one, the five and the ten. I thought and weighed the possibilities in my head, remembering each one of the old lines which used to be said over and over when we were younger. "Don't give him money, he will only buy cigarettes or booze. Don't let him take you for a fool." But the truth was I didn't care. I thought to myself, if my mother and father can so lovingly give a helpless man on the corner a meal for the day, I can spare five dollars to a man who could use it for another. 

As we pulled back across the busy intersection we paused beside the older gentleman who turned to look almost surprised at our arrival. I turned my window down and with that as my mom greeted him, I handed out five dollars. 

The man began to thank us, blessing us with kind words, but it wasn't until my mother held out the food as well did he seem to truly break. I didn't see it as much as a had heard it. The crack in his voice as he stared to cry and tell us he didn't know how to thank us, yet the words that resonated so much more were the simple ones, "I was SO hungry."

I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I tried to mumble it wasn't a problem, that everyone has troubles. but I could hear even my mother's voice breaking as she told him not even to worry about it and just go eat. 

I listened as the man continued to tell us he would pray for us tonight and just thank you so much. I was on the verge of crying in front of him yet I managed a restrained smile as we drove off, the man hurrying across the street behind us to sit down and fill his stomach. 

It was only minutes later did I tell mom with a shaky laugh, "I almost cried in front of him, I just felt so sad."

and my mother tearful as well said, "Me too, that was a really emotional moment, but deep down we can connect with him."

I truly believe to have experienced something like this is a blessing. To know that I have helped make a man believe that there are GOOD people in this world is an unbelievable experience, but above all to have parents who are so willing to give even though money is not a luxury in our house, parents who are willing to cry with a man who maybe has nothing but a dirty card board sign and clothing on his body, I think that is a blessing in it's self. 

Lessons of life are strange, but I would like to say, good things come from good people and I can say with absolute certainty my parents ARE good people.