The human condition is strange, what we feel and how we react comes from with in. We are born compassionate creatures, that feed off each others energy. Below is a true story about one of the kids from my volunteer center, I share this with you to inspire us all, It is these random acts of kindness that makes us unique as a species. Some times, life presents us the opportunity to do extraordinary things in ordinary moments, Carpediem. Some times we make ordinary things happen with extraordinary efforts , In the end when you help some one who is going through the lows, it makes you appreciate the highs you are blessed with.



Alberto and the Baby Carriage

We first met Alberto four years ago when his family moved into the homeless shelter where we were running our Sunday Friends program at the time.

Alberto, age 12, took to our program right away. Each Sunday, as soon as we arrived, Alberto would run to greet us, anxious to help unload the van and set up the program. Throughout every program, he would participate fully in juicing, cooking, writing and art projects. He was often the first to volunteer for cleanup. He enthusiastically joined in the educational games, usually helping little ones to practice their counting or English.

We watched Alberto amass large numbers of tickets, yet week after week he would pass up the shopping excursion to the Treasure Chest. He was saving. We all wondered what he might be saving for. A stereo system? Sports equipment?

Ebony, a tired-looking, slow-moving, very pregnant single mom of three young children, was also a resident of the shelter in which we ran our program. Ebony was of no relation to Alberto, a different race, in fact. We learned what Alberto was saving his tickets for the day Ebony had her baby.

Alberto went shopping in the Treasure Chest that day. He spent his entire savings of tickets to "buy" a deluxe baby carriage for Ebony and her new baby girl. Ebony froze with amazement then sobbed with gratitude. In fact, you could hardly find a dry eye among any of us that day.

When we asked Alberto why he chose to spend all of his tickets to help Ebony, he said simply, "Because she needed it, she had no other way to get one and I could get her one."

We all learned that day what humble empowerment looks like.