Friday, May 28 was the last day Sarah and I would be at Crossroads. Friday was a sunny day. Lots of strollers were out and the families were enjoying the sunshine. Therefore, our turnout was not as high as we had hoped for. It being our last day and all we really wanted to say good by to DayShawn and Alia and their little sister. They never showed up.
There was a new mother who did show up, though. The mother looked to be about 15 or 16 years old and she was holding her little son. This was very sad for me to see because she was younger than both Sarah and I are and she had no one supporting her physically, emotionally, or financially. Where was the little boy's father? Where are her parents? I told her all about the activity (which was scrap booking) and showed her the demo Sarah and I had made. I enthusiastically talked to her for a good two minutes and all I got in return was a blank stare. I later learned that she only knew a few words of English. What is her future going to be like? She does not have a single person in the world that she can rely on. She does not have anyones couch to crash on. She is utterly and completely alone.
This is what I started thinking about: how easy would it have been that I would have been born into her position. I could have been that 16 year old girl. Any of us could be in that situation. What makes us different? Absolutely nothing. Therefore, why am I the one who gets to leave when 5:00 rolls around and go back to my house? This made me realize that if I were in that position I would want someone to volunteer her time to play with my little boy. I would want help. Therefore, this experience has taught me that it is not only unfair to sit around and not help but it is simply necessary that I do help. This one day at Crossroads has led me to believe that there are millions of people I could be right now. But I'm not. Since I am not, I have the opportunity to help. And that is what I know I truly need to do.
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