Memorial Day Blessings

Last year on Memorial Day my granddaughter and I went to the gas station to blow up an inflatable boat for the kids to use in the pool. A haggard-looking man with a sign and a cup sat near the air pump.

I gave him a few dollars and wished him a good day.
My granddaughter, appropriately being raised not to talk to strangers, asked me why I spoke to him and gave him money. Without thinking about it, I said the following.:
“Today is Memorial Day, when we honor the memory of soldiers who have died fighting for our country. It’s correct not to talk to strangers but it’s broad daylight, there are lots of people around, and he doesn’t look like he would hurt anyone. We don’t know his story. We don’t know why he’s sitting here with a sign asking for money for food. Maybe he’s a veteran who fought for our country and now he can’t walk or has some other disability, like what’s called post-traumatic stress disorder.
What we do know is that we are going home to a barbeque where no one is counting the hamburgers. Maybe he’ll eat a little better today because I gave him a few dollars. We are very blessed and we should always remember that. “

I gave him a few dollars and wished him a good day.
My granddaughter, appropriately being raised not to talk to strangers, asked me why I spoke to him and gave him money. Without thinking about it, I said the following.:
“Today is Memorial Day, when we honor the memory of soldiers who have died fighting for our country. It’s correct not to talk to strangers but it’s broad daylight, there are lots of people around, and he doesn’t look like he would hurt anyone. We don’t know his story. We don’t know why he’s sitting here with a sign asking for money for food. Maybe he’s a veteran who fought for our country and now he can’t walk or has some other disability, like what’s called post-traumatic stress disorder.
What we do know is that we are going home to a barbeque where no one is counting the hamburgers. Maybe he’ll eat a little better today because I gave him a few dollars. We are very blessed and we should always remember that. “