One moment

By C.H. CHEAH

Just five ringgit could have made someone’s day.

AS I was walking home the other day, I saw an old woman sitting on the pavement.

Her clothes were worn and stained, and fer face was smudged with dirt. Her white hair was matted and plastered to her scalp, it must have not have been washed for a long, long time. She was sitting on a pile of flattened cardboard boxes. She had a kind face, but it looked worn and tired.

As people walked by, she would held out a frail, shaking hand and pleaded, “Money for food, please?” Most just passed her by; some gave her disgusted looks. Some put small change into her hand – at that, she smileed, bowed her head, and softly said, “Thank you”.

I reached into my pockets and felt for coins but all I found was a five ringgit note. A thought came to me: Why not make the old lady’s day by giving her a fiver? But it was a fleeting thought, soon gone.

I kept searching for loose change until I finally found 20 sen – but by then, I had walked some distance past the old woman. I looked back, and she was looking at me with bright hope in her eyes. She had seen me searching for my pockets and was obviously hoping that I would give her something. But it was only 20 sen! I felt bad, and, reluctantly, I turned and walked on. I could imagine her downcast and disappointed face as she looked at my retreating back. Not many people had given her anything; every sen must have meant a lot for her.

I couldn’t forget the old lady that day. I could have just given her the five ringgit that I had. I almost did, why did I stop? I could have just turned around and walked a few paces back to put some money in her hands, why didn’t I? I had the money, and it is not like I couldn’t spare it. It might have made the old lady’s day. It could have bought her a meal that would have warmed her at least once during long cold days on the streets. She looked so frail and weak...

I decided to find her again the next day and give her some money. Enough for a warm drink and meal, perhaps even a change of clothes. I walked that way again – but she was not at her usual spot. The next day I walked the same way again, but again she wasn’t there. This went on for a week, and at last I gave up and thought that perhaps she might have moved elsewhere. Perhaps the people around here had not been as charitable as she had hoped. I certainly hadn’t been.

I have not seen the old woman again; I am not sure where she is now or how she is doing. What I do know is that I had missed a chance to do a good deed. I should have done what I’d felt was right to do at that moment.

We are all creations of the same Creator, brothers and sisters on earth. Sometimes, moments are given to us to help someone, to extend a hand, to make someone’s day just a little better. Little deeds like these, done by lots of people on earth, are what that will make the world a better place.

Don’t miss your chance to help someone when it comes knocking at your door, don’t regret that you did not lend a hand to fellow human being when she needed your help. We can make our world a better one just by helping each other like the brother and sisters that we really are.