Hard working old lady
By claydequito
@claydequito (18)
Philippines
February 26, 2012 10:59am CST
Late this afternoon, i attended the sunday mass in our city's cathedral. There was really nothing remarkable during the mass. i was with a close friend of mine. after the mass has ended i started to out of the church. it was hard because too many people are going in at the same time many people are trying to go out of the church. outside the church, i notice this little old lady offering some sort of paper. the people she approached just ignored her. Still she kept offering to more people. i knew i had to go, and i was sort of blocking some people but i can't help but watch her. She's little around 4 feet and 11 inches tall and she uses a wooden stick as a cane to support her when she walks. Her face is lined and her hair is gray. i felt sorry for her, so i approached her. i asked her what were the paper she was offering. i learned that they were lottery set which you have to scratch. she was selling them for 20 pesos(about 0.46 USD). the change in my pocket wasn't enough for the said amount so i just placed all the change i had in my pocket in her hand. after that, i said goodbye and continued my way out of the church. i don't know but something made me turn back and look at her. she was looking at the change in her hand and for a moment she looked as if she didn't know what to do about it, then she started to keep the money. I went out of the church, humbled by her. i usually don't mind 20 pesos because i usually just ask for money from my family but she had to work hard for it. i was once again reminded how fortunate and blessed i am to have everything that i need. i was impressed by that little old lady because she didn't just ask for money as other people would do but she tried to work hard for it. should i check on her again the next time i attend mass?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
27 Feb 12
When I was a kid, I always see one or two old people selling lottery tickets (they were called sweepstakes back then) on my way out of church. Lately though, no one sells anything. I guess they were prohibited from doing so. Although it's nice seeing people work for money instead of just begging, I feel saddened at the same time seeing old people still working. Sometimes I wonder where their sons or daughters are or their relatives and why did they allow her to still work. What you did though is a very admirable. I mean, like you said, people usually don't give notice to old people selling things outside the church. They usually just pass them by, some even deliberately avoid them. Most of them don't realize how fortunate they are that they don't have to work like the old lady.
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
27 Feb 12
Its sad to see our elderly having to stand anywhere and try to earn some money.
When we are to old we are discarded, here in the US, they put you in a nursing home.
They strip you of everything taking all your money. Then by law you are given 35.00 in your account that you can get "necessary items"
To see the courage this woman had to try and make it on her own, I personally would make sure I had enough pesos every week to give her if I saw her than place all in the offering plate.
I think when God sees a person like this we are to bless and help them in any way we can, and whats the harm in a few pesos or dollars to aid her life being a bit easier.
@claydequito (18)
• Philippines
27 Feb 12
I agree with you. I believe that everything has its purpose and reasons according to God's plan. That encounter with her made me appreciate what i had. It also made me aware how wrong the system is. The government was suppposed to set funds for their pension but even with it, life is still hard for them. Maybe society should try to find a way to help them while keeping their dignity and pride intact. They have been through so much and one way or another they've help build the society we are in today. I think it's time we give something back to them in return, helping them in any way we can.
