Santino-ish encounter

It's a common scenario along the streets of Manila that vendors risk their lives everyday selling bottled water, cigarettes, peanuts and what-not. These vendors we see are old, disabled, women holding a child, or just little kids going from car-to-car each time the stop lights turn red. Normally I don't give anything to them. I would just knock back on the window or shake my head.

But that particular Friday night on Makati Ave., stuck on the horrible weekend traffic, I was watching a young boy holding up his sampaguita as he goes car-to-car. No one was buying his sampaguita. Until he approached a girl who had her windows down as she puffs on her cigarette. The girl didn't buy sampaguita from him. But she gathered up her coins and gave it to the boy. There was a faint smile on the face of the boy as he moved away from the car. He probably felt me starring at him that he approached my car next. As he held up his sampaguita up, I shook my head, saying no, thank you. But then he didn't leave just yet. I was thinking, had I not consumed my Chips Ahoy yet, I would have given it to him instead. But too late for that. Then I remembered my change from paying my parking fee. I looked for my P20 then opened the window and gave it to him. He probably thought I was buying a sampaguita as he was getting one for me. I told him, no, keep it. It's for you. But then the little boy insisted, handing me the sampaguita saying, to give it to Papa Jesus. Wow! My heart just melt. He actually wanted to give me one more. I said, no this is fine. Then he said thank you and walked away.

I guess if it were any other boy, he would have walked away the moment I said to keep for himself the money. And perhaps would have rushed away without even saying thank you. But this boy, it was like he was telling me, if not for you, then for Papa Jesus. How can you refuse that? And more importantly, he said thank you. It may be just an overly used response, but for me, it is a big deal especially coming from little kids.

That brief encounter reminded me of a very important teaching. "No one is too poor that he can't give anything." He made me realize that everything doesn't have to be grand. Simple gestures are as enormous as long as you give with utmost sincerity.

I drove home with a light and smiling heart ready for the busy weekend.