A Blind Woman and a Pretty Little Girl

She was being led by a little girl of about five in a bright green dress.

The little girl seemed full of energy and maybe even joy.

The pretty little girl did not seem to mind that the old woman that was gripping
her arm was blind.

Her face was awkward.

In my weakness I turned away from her because I was embarrassed and did not want to acknowledge her suffering.

I sat there in the front seat of the kombi and looked at
my Nokia 5233, a new phone.

To my greatest distress, the little girl led the blind beggar woman to the entrance of the kombi I was sitting in, right next to me.

I thought that the woman was just going to beg a little, but no.

She let go of the little girls arm, stretched out a small green tin plate and began to sing.

No, she did not have an angelic voice that stopped people in their tracks and made them want to give her everything they had.

On the contrary, her voice matched her face- it was not sweet or particularly interesting, yet it was not ugly either.  

It was hard like the hard life that that woman had probably been through..

It was strange also like her face.

She sang a Shona song that said, ‘Of if  I could see Jesus (quite ironic in her blindness), I would tell
him of all my troubles.

Even if you people do not care about me I would turn to my Jesus.’

While she sang, the little girl played by herself behind the blind singing woman.

She played with an empty penny-cool packet, blowing it up and popping it up.

I felt so uncomfortable whilst this event was happening, maybe because I had no
money to give this woman or I just was not used to it.

I continued to look the other way and I wished she would stop singing.

Just as I thought she was finished, she started the lengthily song again!

When she was done, her bowl still empty, the little girl came and placed
her upper arm into the blind, old woman’s hand.

As they were turning away I allowed myself a glance.

Do you know what I saw?

I saw the old blind woman wipe away a tear from her cheek.

Many thought rushed through my head as I witnessed this.

I did not know who to feel sorrier for, the blind old woman who had probably had a
hell of a tough life, or the little girl who had been robbed of a
normal childhood filled with health, family, friends and peace.

Would that little girl cry if her older sister was mean to her like I often do?

Would she sulk and feel unloved if her friends did not talk to her for more than a week like I do?

Would she cuss and wish all hell lose on a boy who had passed an offside at her like (cringe) I do?

Would she be sad for the rest of the day if her dad asked her what form she 

Giacomo Ceruti - Little Beggar Girl and Woman Spinning

is in like I do?

Wait, was her dad even in her life and would she ever have the chance to reach my level of schooling?

Or did she have bigger problems?

I don’t know the answer to most of my questions.

I may never know them.

My family may be hard for cash and I may not be able to help that old blind woman and BEAUTIFUL little girl.

But I can promise you, I will never forget them.

They, today, gave me more than I could ever give them.

They gave me a reason to be grateful and to thank God for
what I do have and what opportunities I was born with.

Despite what many optimists may say, I have learned that LIFE IS NOT FAIR!

WE ARE NOT ALL GIVEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES!

So just thank God for what you do have and help and pray for those who have less.