Why Didn't I Help? by Betty Badgett

WHY    DIDN’T    I    HELP ?

 

                One year ago, I remember walking into the neighborhood Dollar Tree two blocks

from my house In Upstate New York.  It was crowded as usual, so I hurried to get my purchases

rush to the nearest cashier so that I would avoid the long lines and be able to quickly leave the

the store.

                 As I stood on line waiting for my turn, I noticed the young gentleman in front of me

standing there with only a large gallon of milk.  He was fumbling in his pockets, perhaps trying

to get his money ready, as he was next on line.  The cashier rang up his purchase and began

looking annoyed as she looked at how fast her line was growing and there was no one working

the register next to her.

                   After searching his pockets trying to come up with the money to give her for his

item, he said, “I’ll be back.”  He turned towards the door and walked out leaving the gallon of

milk on the counter.  The cashier looked even more annoyed as she quickly yelled for someone

to hurry over and place the gallon of milk back in the refrigerator.

                    At that moment I heard a voice inside me saying, “Why didn’t you help?”  I tried

to find an excuse or reason to come up with to answer that question.  Truth was, I had money

in my wallet being that I had just left the ATM machine. I had no answer.  I paid for my

purchases and walked out of the store and headed across the parking lot to my car.  When I got

to my car, I had tears in my eyes.  Suppose that gentleman had children at home waiting on that

gallon of milk for cereal, or just to drink.  I had no idea what his situation was, but there was

 an opportunity to help someone and show kindness, and I had let it pass.  I felt small as a

human being.  I always talk to my kids about being kind and giving and here I was with the

opportunity to do just that and I let it pass.  At that moment I was a hypocrite, 

                I loaded my car and got in.  My heart hurt for that young man, so I took a moment to

say a prayer for him since I had no way of finding him and redoing what had just happened.

Why didn’t I help?  What was I afraid of?  At that moment a thought came to my mind.  Perhaps

God had placed me in that store, on that line, at that exact time to reach out and extend a gift of

kindness to a stranger in need.  I wanted to cry at that moment.  Instead, I vowed to God that if

I were ever in a position to help some one again, I would, so I would never have to ask myself

Why didn’t I help.