Mommy Wizdom is our host this week and you will find more participants at her blog.
The assignment this monday is : Your job this week is to go out and perform a random act of kindness. This act may be for someone you know or for a perfect stranger. It can be big or small, it'll all up to you. Obviously, it should be something within your means.
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If you've had a random act of kindness bestowed on you (recently), we'd love to hear about it. How did it impact you? How did it make you feel?
It's quite difficult to talk about an act of kindness I did myself, because when I am kind, I find it normal and not something to shout out into the whole world. But I remember one act of kindness because it made me so furious that I would never forget ! This happened in February this year when it was very cold.
Since the ancient communistic countries opened there borders, we have an invasion of them coming here for work or for mafioso purposes. There is a rumanian "Mafia" who are coming with young women with babies or toddlers and sent them out for begging. It's always the same. A full of golden chaines decorated "pimp" appears in a black van with at least 8 or 10 women in it and leaves them out in front of supermarkets or shopping malls. There they have to stay the whole day until he comes and picks them up again. The police can't do anything usually they have tourist visas and they go away of course if they see them.
So one day I saw a young woman holding an about one year old baby in her arms asking for money. I noticed with horror, that the poor child had no socks and shoes and it was so cold !
I tried to figure out the size of the feet, stormed in the shop and bought warm little socks and padded warm little slippers. I ran out again and gave both things to the young woman. She looked very surprised, happy but full of fear at the same time. I stayed with her and helped to put on the socks and the shoes, while she was looking anxiously around. I hoped the pimp would show up to jump at his throat and strangle him, but nobody was in view. She thanked me with a smile and I went away. But I turned around to look at them a little later and I saw a young man, probably her husband who looked at the socks and the shoes and also seemed quite happy. The only one who was probably more than furious was the "pimp" who wanted money and no baby shoes !
I never give money, I buy food if there is written "I am hungry".
This is a picture I took today with a zoom, hidden behind a car. Another poor victim. The worst thing is, these women don't dare to do anything against these men ! They behave like beaten women.
Dear Gattina ~~ What a lovely story and you were so generous to help that child. I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit to my blog and sorry it is so cold for you just now. We have had a few days wearing cardigans, but it's better today.
I plan to do a post tonight and I am leaving a Butterfly award for you
I hope you enjoy it. Take care, Love, Merle.
Oh Gattina this really breaks my heart! I feel so bad for those women and children its just not fair that they should be treated this way! How wonderful that you thought of the child instead of giving them money, good on you for being such a lovely lady! Hugs xxxx
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. And a good way of dealing with the 'crooked pimps' as you call them who want money instead of the sound and physical help.
ReplyDeleteUgh! That just gets my goat! How horrible for those women and children. I am glad you took a stand and offered your help.
ReplyDeleteI liked your story of giving the socks. I too believe giving money sometimes makes things much worse. Your act of kindness didn't enable but actually helped.
ReplyDeleteWhat a horror story for those poor women and children. You were an "angel of mercy" for that woman and baby. A RAK that will long be remembered.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad for those ladies who are being taken advantage of. Shameful. Good for you for doing the right and honorable thing.
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! It saddens me so much to see how women in many countries are treated by the men who are supposed to love and protect them. Just finished a book about the atrocities done to Afghan woman. You're exactly right to buy the shoes and socks for the baby. If the pimp even noticed, at least he would know that there's one person who's not going to play his sick game. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHow horrendous! It is amazing that in this day and age women are still treated this way, and yet the practice is still alive and well as you so clearly demonstrated. How kind of you to buy the child socks and shoes. I'm sure you brought great joy and comfort to both the child and his parents.
ReplyDeleteYou chose the good way to help this kid and her mother. In France there is a law now wich prohibites the fact to ask money in the streets with kids. Since this law, I don't see such situation in street now. C'était la seule solution pour que cela cesse. et je suis comme toi je ne donne jamais d'argent seulement des aliments. A ollioules on a qu'un seul clodo au village, un jeune qui traine depuis quelques années mais à Toulon c'est autre chose!!!Même en voiture au feu rouge on est sans cesse sollicité!
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad.
ReplyDeleteI never gave out money as a Pastor either. I would drive people to the local restaurant and pay for their meal but no money.
I had a man show up at the house one Sunday at lunch time. He said he hadn't eaten for a week. I to9ld him we were just sittingy down to eat but we had ebough hamburgers and french fries to share.
He said that's not what I want and walked off.
I love that you marched right into the store and bought socks & shoes!! You are awesome! Thanks for a great story.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Holiday Season!!
What a sad situation for these young women to be in. I am sure your RAK will be long remembered by the woman you helped.
ReplyDeleteThank your for helping that poor child and mother. You are right, giving money is dangerous because you never know what it will be used for.
ReplyDeleteThey probably ARE beaten women - in whatever sense it takes to enslave them like that.
ReplyDeleteBless you for covering that child's feet. It sounds like that little kindness inspired a bit of hope in that downtrodden family.
Poor women.
ReplyDeleteI have not thought of giving clothes, socks or food. I will do that next time. But what those pimps want is money, so I have to give some in case the women get beaten. Sad.
Oh Gattina..that is horrible, I am so glad you were there to help that poor child. That is a horrible, mean existence..thank goodness for people like you.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh that is so sad. I couldn't stand it... but I'm so glad you helped and I do agree with the way you did it too! No money in HIS pocket - just good solid help for the wee one! YAY You Gattina!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about this. Another thing to make me sick at heart.
ReplyDeleteYou never know, tho, what your little act of kindness might have done to her heart.