Last night we went down town to look at a all-terrain stroller because I refuse to buy something that expensive without trying it first. And just so you know, the one we thought we’d buy was awesome. Great features. Not to big. Turns easy. Comfortable feel.
Except for one part. The break down. Not good.
It requires tugging and pulling and pushing buttons and folding back and bending forward and wrestling it to the ground and strattling it with both legs to snap on the clasps to lock it down. By the third time I tried to collapse the dumb stroller, I looked at Brandon with hair in my face and sweat on my brow and said, “this isn’t happening.” Because there’s no way I can do that with a screaming baby in my arms while on the phone and rushing to get in the car for a last minute grocery run. Isn’t it supposed to be convenient? Easy? Efficient? I hated it already. And I didn’t even own it yet.
That’s the best $400 I never spent.
But that isn’t the point of this post. The point is what happened before trying out the stroller. Before we even walked in the store. Keep in mind that this little baby boutique is deep downtown, almost in an industrial area. There’s people everywhere. Buildings. Dirt. Cars. Grime. Traffic. But when we got out of the car, we were surprised to be approached by a man in his late 30′s asking for a gas can. He looked like a regular guy that was just a little rough around the edges. Polo shirt. Shorts. Unshaven. Buzzed head. Cigar smell.
Of course we didn’t have the can (who does?), which sent this man into the schpeal of his life story. In 45 seconds.
We quickly found out that his friend was stranded at work and needed gas in the car and he worked in the building right across the street and nobody shares the aloha anymore and is Brandon a local boy? and we should be able to trust him because he’s married to so and so and has two kids named Kalani and Kainoa and we can see he’s a regular guy because look at how nice his teeth are and can he please have $20 so he can get gas up the road and he’ll pay back double interest if we just come to his work tomorrow.
It happened so fast we hardly had a chance to process. But Brandon was listening. Carefully.
“I don’t have $20, man.”
“I’ll take whatever you got.”
Which is when Brandon looked at me to see how I felt about the whole thing, but I was still confused. I was thinking about his teeth and what that could possibly do with gas. So I said I didn’t care what he does as long as we can go look at our stroller. So Brandon gave him all the cash in his pocket, which ended up being $9. And we went inside feeling assaulted.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The whole event happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to process in the moment. To think things through. To understand the situation. I mean, was he trustworthy? Why would he tell us his whole life story just to get a couple of bucks? How did that happen so fast? Did we make the right decision? Should we have taken him to the gas station instead? Should we have just said no? For all we knew, he could be the typical homeless stereotype out on the street just looking for beer money. But that’s just a stereotype, right?
And then I was mad at myself for not being more observant. For not taking the time to actually listen. To feel empathy. To make it a conversation instead of an exchange. Why wasn’t I thinking straight? What a missed opportunity! I could have told him about Jesus. I could have prayed with him. I could have…I would have…I should have. Where was my courage? Where was my head? Why did I fail?
I was thinking about my stroller. That’s why.
What would you have done in the situation? Does it catch you off guard when random people ask you for money? Do you get flustered?
My typical response is to give the money. I mean, do I really need $9? No. I was getting ready to spend $400. But I can tell you, I couldn’t stop thinking about him the rest of the night and even now. Maybe he’s struggling. Maybe he’s depressed. Maybe he’s in a bind. And maybe God just wanted me to get flustered and committed enough to pray for him. Could that be all this was? He needed prayer? I can do that.
What are your thoughts?
Maybe that’s how it feels to be in Gods plan. He doesn’t have a watch but a plan and you guys could’ve, I mean were, used for the specific reason of giving him those nine dollars. I know from experience that not all things that happened to me were necessarily for my knowledge or for my understanding but for the other persons benefit.
I hope this helps miss ya
Jessica
My typical response is always no to the money thing (must be the cynic in me). If I am near something like a food joint or something, than I have no problem buying them food or something…but it’s just money I am always hesitant about.
I am curious though, what kind of stroller was it? I stroller shopped till my eyes popped out of my head…Are you looking for a jogging stroller? Were you at Baby Emporium? I am still writing you back about the baby gear…haven’t had enough time yet to really sit down and write it out.
love you!
My first thought was maybe he was an angel and you’ll be rewarded in heaven. My second thought is, we’re so totally blessed that I can afford to take the chance and give the guy a few bucks. I mean really how many times have you been hit up in your life time? I’m guessing for myself a couple dozen times. Multiplied by $9.00 that’s only $210.00, and guess what? It wouldn’t blow me out of the water if one of those poor chaps had a beer with the money, because I would know I had shown him kindness and hopefully shared a little about Jesus with him.
I always stress about situations like this. What makes me feel the worst is that I hate that I can’t feel total trust that a person is telling me the truth and truly needs my help. I wish we lived in a better world than one where we have to question each other’s motives like that.
I’m actually extremely hesitant in giving out money. I always think the worst that’s why. And I get freaked out when I’m approached by anyone that I don’t know, especially when I’m by myself. So when the two are combined, it’s just unlikely that anybody will get money from me. I hope that doesn’t make me a horrible person.
Mom, that’s totally funny because my very first thought also was, “is he an angel?” I guess I’m always looking for a test. Wonder why we both jump to that conclusion…
And Jess, the stroller was a Bumbleride Indie. We want an all-terrain/jogging stroller so I can exercise once the baby comes. It seemed great because it was smaller than most of those types of strollers. We don’t like the big strollers with the huge wheels. It’s not like I’m a runner or anything. I’ll mostly be walking. Jogging 3 miles tops. Oh, and we were at Baby USA on Nimitz.