We had to pick up some coffee at Walgreen’s this afternoon. He was in between our car and the one parked next to us.

I wrestled a 1 year old, my purse and two cans of coffee (no, I don’t need a bag, thankyouverymuch) while he said “Okay, thanks…God bless” to the open window of the other car.

He turned to me then and said, “Ma’am I hate to ask this, I really do. But I recently got laid off at Cessna and my wife and I just ran out of gas. Do you have a dollar or two so we can fill up and get home? I’ve been looking for a job all week.”

I guess it was his need to make sure I knew he was actively pursuing work that made me soften.

I didn’t handle it perfectly. I explained we usually have cash, but with tomorrow being payday we were running on debit card fumes. He walked away, but after I got in I noticed the coin bag we’ve had on the floor of the car for like a week. (And once again, untidiness pays off.) I could tell there were enough non-pennies in there to add up to at least a couple dollars.

The way he stood there with his hand open while I counted a bunch of nickels affirmed to me his authenticity. He mumbled something about how this was new degredation for him and I looked him in the eye. I don’t know about a lot of things. But I do know what it’s like to feel vulnerable. Like the whole world is staring.

I told him I know it’s humbling. And that I hope things can turn around for him soon. He shook my hand.

I often wonder what goes through my little guy’s mind. What did he think was happening just then? We prayed for the man on the way to pick up Daddy. And the only thing that came to my mind to ask for him was hope. I wasn’t compelled to ask for a job for him. Just that tonight he and his wife would be given the gift of encouragement that things will be okay. We all need that from time to time. Sometimes more than a job.