Thursday 5 April 2012

...trying to help

French found himself launched into a sticky situation last night.  This is his story cobbled together from a string of texts he sent me as it happened.

He had stopped off at a grocery store on the way home from work, and had seen a lady feeding two kids as they walked the aisles.  French called it "grazing".  The mother was having her children snag food as they shopped and encouraging them to "eat up".  It became too obvious and she was confronted, and stopped, but they did not kick her out.  Maybe due to embarrassment.

The family played it cool for a while, then started up again. This time the manager was summoned and was in the process of kicking them out, and making her pay for all the food her kids had eaten.

French stepped in, got out money, and offered to pay for the food.  Nice right?

At that point the mother just lost it on French.  She lit into him and started to yell at him about "minding his goddamn business".

His last text was: "the police are here".



10 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

Pride is a very strong thing.

Brandee Shafer said...

I'm sure God appreciated the gesture even if the woman didn't!

happygirl said...

Good deeds done in secret are treasures stored in heaven. Bless you, French.

Stafford Ray said...

Shit man, French hurt her pride. She just wanted to be independent!
Great story. I note he got the scotch for the old guy too... he never learns does he! Hahaha!

Brian Miller said...

hard one...we do have to know when not to help...and walk away with as much grace....

happygirl said...

Still love this one. French is a good man.

Mommy Emily said...

ack i ache for those children and i love french and i want to love on that mother but part of me is angry with her. i find it hard to have sympathy when children are being hurt in the process. of course, i don't know the whole story. so glad you're back chris. i've missed you!

suzannah | the smitten word said...

my heart breaks for those kids caught in the cross-hairs. what an impossible situation for them.

tinuviel said...

What a heartbreaking situation. God bless French and use his kindness to open that struggling mother up to His love. May He watch over and protect those little ones He loves so much.

Ramblings by Carol Nuckols said...

So many unknowns in this story. French has a good heart --- that much is known. The mother was feeding her children, but teaching them that it's OK to steal is pretty disheartening. Was she totally impoverished and starving, or just lacking in morals? I hope that, since the police arrived, maybe social workers got involved so those unfortunate kids could get the help they need, or their mother could get some training in parenting skills, or something.