Within Our Heart

One day, I decided to attend mass with fifteen pesos in my coin purse; five pesos for my fare going to the church; another five pesos as my fare for going home; and, other five pesos used to buy bread for my supper.
After the mass, I went to the bakery to buy bread worth of five pesos. When I was about to leave the portal of the bakery, I accidentally met a vanguard old woman who waited and barely opened her hand for alms. I just thought for a few minutes if I should have to give the bread or the money either; but, how could I knowing that this was only my food for my supper and if I should give my money how could I go for home; I asked myself, do I need to take a walk for how many kilometers away from home? Did I have fasting for a night?
These are the two questions that put me into dilemma; however, I was bothered by my social conscience, which led me bring to mind the story in the bible about the existence of the bird; if the bird could survive without caretaker why couldn’t I. So, without much ado, I took for granted all my thoughts of fears instead I heartily gave them all to the vanguard old woman chilling from hunger and thirst as my naked eyes witnessed her .
As an ordinary person like the woman, I felt sorry for her. I was dismantled with the plight of life on earth. I never evaded myself to shed my tears of pity. I never denied myself to purge all my emotions thinking for the irresponsible relative of the woman letting her to wander at the street asking for food and penny from the passerby.
How disgusting these creatures indeed!
While on my way imagining the quandary of this woman, I remembered my friend who was teaching at the catholic school nearby the church. I suddenly turned my trembling empathy to look for my friend in her classroom just to tell her my story. As I narrated my story, my friend did not hold her tears of empathy towards me because she couldn’t believe what I did to the woman. She commended me for having a cross in my heart. She said that I am in the heart of God. After our short reflection, I bid her farewell; but, before I leave her, she gave me one hundred pesos. Thank you was my words of appreciation that I could only share with her.
Ten pesos times ten became one hundred pesos. This was the value of being charitable to others. This is the worth that could never be paid by some of money, but could only be treasured within our heart.










April 12, 2008
Almeda’s Boardinghouse
Legazpi City