Mrs. Tucker dropped Charlie off at his grandparent’s home so she could meet her husband and run some errands.

“Take care not to wear your grandma and grandpa out while we are gone, my little man,” Mrs. Tucker said, while hugging her son good bye and passing him over to his grandma.

“I won’t, mom. Grandma is going to tell me some stories and make rice crispy squares with me,” little Charlie replied.

“We’ll be fine, no worries,” Grandma Sue said, as Charlie ran over to give his grandpa a hug.

“Alright, we’ll be back by the evening,” Mrs. Tucker replied, as she hugged her mom and waved goodbye to her dad and little Charlie.

“Are we going to make rice crispy squares right away, Grandma?” Charlie asked, as his grandma came over to where he and his grandpa were standing.

“I don’t see why not, but let me show you something I saw on the news today, Charlie,” Grandma Sue said.

She continued, “It just left me with such a feeling of hope for our world and a sense that there are really good people on this planet. Come have a seat over here,” she motioned.

And so Charlie watched a video clip* about a homeless person who had been treated with respect by a kind and caring lady. Then when this kind and caring lady herself needed help, he gave back by paying for her home, so she could keep her son and daughter in her custody.

“You see, Charlie, sometimes life throws you a curve ball, just like that lady and her little children, who were just fine, living under a warm roof with no financial worries just half a year ago, and then the mother lost her job, and after that, her house,” Grandma Sue said.

“It is sad, and I hope that little boy and girl are going to be alright, and that their mom will find a job again. It’s just that homeless person is special, really special, grandma,” Charlie said, with his eyes tearing up a bit as he felt happy to have watched a video about such a caring person.

“Yes, he is. He has given help to a stranger in a time when no one else would help; he’s an angel,” she said, giving her grandchild a squeeze.

“Will he have a home, grandma, some day?” Charlie asked.

“I hope so,” she replied.

“I, I’m very lucky, aren’t I, grandma?” Charlie queried.

“Yes, you are; we all are,” Grandma Sue responded.

She continued, “Many people are having a very hard time just surviving, or as your grandpa would say, making ends meet. People have lost their jobs, their homes, their animals, and some, their kids, because of the financial strain and natural disasters, all of which have been going on in our world lately.”

“Just to make sure I understand, what does “financial strain” mean?” Charlie asked, as he followed his grandma over to the kitchen.

“It means, people who in the past would have had enough money to survive and buy the basics, food and clothing, that kind of stuff and pay for rent, well, a lot of people don’t have the money to properly survive, so they feel strained.”

“I see, then we are really lucky mom and dad both have jobs, aren’t we?” Charlie replied.

“Yes,” his grandma said emphatically. “We must always be grateful for what we have and give back to those who don’t have as much, so we can help out. That wonderful person who is homeless has more of a heart and a will to give than most of us. He sure set a good example for others in looking after our fellow beings,” she said, pulling the rice crispy cereal box out of the cupboard.

“I’d like to give back to people who are making a positive difference in people’s lives one day when I can,” Charlie said.

“Whether you know it or not, Charlie, you already are giving a lot of people such joy and happiness with your positive outlook and caring ways,” Grandma Sue said, passing Charlie a marshmallow to munch on.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

*This story was inspired by a real life occurrence, please see the youtube video below: