The Road Least Taken…


Sampaguita
November 19, 2007, 5:23 am
Filed under: Kids, Prayer, Ramblings, Random Thoughts, Reflection, Sorrow | Tags: boy, burden, Faith, help, pain, Prayer, sampaguita, Sorrow

On my way home from a friend’s house, my wife and I stopped by a convenience store to buy some milk for our two little kids.

It was already 2:00 AM.

On my way back to the car, a little kid approached me.  In his hands were a bunch of Sampaguita flowers… probably the last strands of what he had been selling since that afternoon.

He said, “Kuya, sampaguita po… 20pesos na lang para makauwi na po ako…” (”Sir, please buy my sampaguita… 20 Pesos only so that I can go home already…”), and he looked very sad and tired.

This kid is practically the same age as my little boy, and he’s still out at 2:00AM selling flowers while my kid is at home fast asleep already.

This crushed my heart so bad.  I took the flowers and saw him off.  As I drove away, I stopped at the next intersection waiting for the traffic light to give us the “go” signal.  I noticed the very same boy walking away… he sadly looked back at me and softly waved goodbye…

Suddenly, I felt this great burden… so much pain and sorrow overwhelmed me.  It’s as if I needed to do something more for the boy.  In no exaggeration, the pain was totally unbearable… It’s as if someone had stuck a knife in my heart… and wouldn’t let go.

When we got home, I immediately placed the Sampaguita flowers on my altar and I just started praying and praying… I prayed with so much sorrow and  grief that in the middle of my prayer I started crying and crying… tears just wouldn’t stop flowing down.

I prayed ONLY for this little boy… I asked the Lord for provisions for the kid as He has always provided for me and my family.  I prayed for his safety and protection… I intently asked that kids like him be able to find God and faith amidst all their hardships.  I also asked the Lord that I may be able to see this boy once again so that I may be able to help him some more.

May the Lord bless all the little children… especially those in dire need of His saving grace.