by Roman Del Bosque

Created on: September 09, 2010

The best lessons in life are free.  The lessons I refer to here are those wherein we are given the opportunity to help others.  The ones that, frequently, arrive unexpectedly but which so often turn out to be the most gratifying in life.  And many times, even life changing for either one or both individuals involved.

As an example, a homeless man once approached to ask for a quarter as I entered a 7-11 store.  “Why a quarter,” I thought to myself.  When usually it’s a dollar the homelss ask for.  I don’t know, but something about the man told me to give him more.  So I pulled what was in my pocket and handed it to him.

His reaction was instantaneous and animated.  And his eyes turned as large as silver dollars.

“What?” he gasped, “Are you serious?”

He wanted to give it back, but I wouldn’t take it.  He was beside himself, and walked back and forth in circles in disbelief, repeating to himself, “I don’t believe this…I don’t believe this.”  I just smiled. And all he could do was look back at me in disbelief.  For a moment, the whole situation was rather comical.

My son, 15, was with me at the time.  He, too, witnessed the homeless man’s utter look of surprise.  At one point, I looked at my son and he looked at me, and I noticed that he was smiling too.  It was one of those “right on, Dad” looks.  Then, suddenly, I felt warm all over.  My soul was happy.  And it was then I realized something extraordinary was happening.

Then, unexpectedly and without me having to say anything to him, my son also stepped up to the plate.  He took out a five-dollar bill, out of his own allowance money, and handed it to the homeless man as well.  Needless to say, this drove the homeless man even more beside him self. 

“Are you kidding me,” the homeless man exclaimed, as he continued walking around in circles, his hands now on his head, as if wanting to yank his hair out.  “Are you guys serious,” he continued.  “No one has ever done this, sir.  Why are you doing this?”  I didn’t know what to tell him, so I just smiled.

“But I only asked for a quarter,” the homeless man continued. 

“Do something good with it,” I replied.  And I walked away with my son following close behind.  The homeless man, with the look of disbelief still on his face, watched as we walked away.  That look on his face was simply priceless.

“Thank you, sir.  Thank you, son,” was the last thing I heard the homeless man say as my son and I entered the store.  As we did so, my son turned to me and said, “That was nice what you did, Dad.  You taught me a valuable lesson today about helping others in need.”  His words lifted my spirit to an even higher level.  The feeling was divine.

That day the homeless man may have walked away with more than a quarter in his pockets.  But I walked away with a wonderful, warm feeling of satisfaction in my heart, for having helped a person in need, and just as importantly with the seal of approval from my own son, who learned first hand the wonderful lesson of giving onto others.

Lessons in giving.  They may just be the best lessons in life.  And also the most rewarding for all involved. 

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