A Personal Sharing on Grace – brought on by salad and kimchi…

…on limited occasions when I needed to go out to make some purchases at Kamuning market – on items that ran out with my regular meal fare, such as my salad dish – lettuce mixed with thinly diced apple and pear, and some grapes with kewpie dressing (very good).

ARTURO L. ZUÑIGA

On the way to the market, passing the Kamuning road waiting for my turn, I noticed a very young girl, about eight years old, carrying a baby brother, about 2-3 years old, using an improvised front harness. She was selling the flower, sampaguita, to the waiting vehicles. Seeing the girl barely able to carry the brother almost half her length was a moving sight as she plods along from car to car with her wares.

Moved by the sight, I opened my window as she approached my vehicle; I handed the girl some money and watched her sort out her sampaguita, counting the equivalent of the cash I gave. I said, ‘wag na lang, sa yo na yan’ (don’t bother, it’s all yours), intending not to take the flowers which she may still be able to sell. But she would not hear of it and as she finished sorting the flowers and started to wrap it around my side-view mirror with a smile saying ‘sa inyo po ito’ (this is yours, “po” (polite way speaking to an elder) adding ‘salamat po’ (thank you, “po”).

I was struck by the girl’s honesty, happy attitude, and grit to honor a transaction even at her young age despite her obvious difficulties carrying around her brother. As the light turned green and the cars started to move, she sat down on the island curb, and I took her picture; I do not why, perhaps to remember the moment – to remind me of our work ahead with the poor that we do.

As I drove away, the scene moved me to reflect on why this little girl is living out a street life and the poverty that drove them to this daily struggle.

Often we hear of syndicates that control this trade and using ‘baby’ props to elicit empathy. I remembered a homily once about this as we encounter similar situations; the priest said ‘GIVE ANYWAY’ out of love with a prayer for correction with justice and compassion.

But this time, I can see from the little girl a genuineness of purpose to sell and earn some money honestly, and her baby brother probably cannot be left alone as the parents might be trying to eke out a meager living. It was the way she carried out her purpose; her face pictured a quiet, serene endurance to her hardships yet maintaining a happy gait as she moved from car to car, often adjusting her brother once in a while to a less burdensome position.

What a moving encounter that the Lord offers once in a while as a chance for grace and insight. Often as a gift of faith that loves and heals as it provides an opportunity for a token of charity, to alleviate a time of need by others. As one responds, it becomes an exchange of gifts for both to experience Jesus.

More often than not, in a rush, we often miss out on the many little opportunities offered in our daily encounters to experience grace. I was so moved that I turned around and bought a McDonald’s meal for them and hurried back to where she was, but alas, they were nowhere in sight, probably done for the day to rest after a long day’s struggle, and I just offered a prayer for them.

*I moved* on to buy the things I needed, and I thought of getting Kimchi at a favorite Korean store at Timog near Quezon Avenue, giving me a chance to drive around after being cooped up in the house. Nearing the Korean store, I had to stop to read and answer a long text message. As I started to move, I noticed at the corner of my eye a bulky moving figure, and there was a homeless older man by the arcade of closed stores wrapped up beside his big bundle of probably personal things in a trash bag. As I had food with me, I decided to give it to the homeless man. As I called him offering the “supot” (paper bag) of food and juice, he approached, with a smile on his bearded wrinkled face as he said, ‘nakakahiya naman po’ (I feel shy “po”) and accepted as he added ‘salamat po’ (thank you, “po”).

As I moved away, I was happy not because of the deeds but by the Lord’s ‘set up’ on the opportunities for grace, twice in a brief moment in time, and as I thanked Him and drove, I completely forgot the Kimchi I wanted to buy and went home happy and fulfilled.

*God bless us all!*