She gingerly laid out the old P20 bill on the counter and started counting her coins from her hands. I turned to see an old woman probably in her early 60s, struggling to count the coins for her prescription.
She gently pushed them in front of the sales staff of the Mercury Drugstore (Paseo, Sta Rosa) who I thought, should be putting a smile on her face to greet this elderly customer.
“Magkano po lahat yan?” ( how much is all that) she asked the elderly lady next to me.
“Sixty pesos…”
The sales staff proceeded to punch the numbers while mumbling “30% lang ang discount nyo dito sa card na ito…” (you only get 30% discount from this card)… as the elderly lady showed her a blue card.
The elderly was quiet – and it is as if time stood still as we waited how much her medicine would actually cost.
The sales staff walked away and got her medicine…and came back after a couple of moments and said “P170 po total” (your total cost is P170) pero kulang na po kayo ng P31.
The elderly lady did not respond right away. I slowly opened my wallet and I also noticed a woman on my left slowly opening her wallet as well. I knew that she was also getting ready to help and she noticed that I started taking out small bills from mine.
The elderly lady made a grimace and started to count the remaining coins in her left hand… one glance and you know – it would not be enough.
“Ito na lang nanay….” I said, as I gave the sales staff two pieces of P20 bills. The sales staff got my money and went to the cashier. I turned to the elderly lady and asked “Nanay, may natira pa po ba para sa pamasahe ninyo?” (Is there anything left for your fare?)
She gently smiled and said yes. The sales staff came back with her medicines and the P9 change and gave them to the elderly lady.
She gently brushed her hair with her old withered hand and slowly turned to me with a smile and said “salamat po sir…” (thank you sir)
My body was still turned toward her and I smiled back and said “ok po. ingat po kayo pag-uwi…” (take care on your way home)
“Salamat po ulit”, she repeated, her voice trailing off as she started to walk away.
I wish she called me “anak” instead of a “sir”….but at any rate, it was her grateful stance and her smile that really blew me away. She made me feel like I gave her one million pesos.
In our greatest times of need – sometimes, even the smallest or the insignificant amount feels like a million bucks to us. I was just really grateful to have done that to her. It felt good to be an anonymous stranger just giving grace to someone in need.
At that moment, it was humbling to realize that whether we have plenty or we are also in want, God can still use us to answer somebody’s prayer.
The saleslady got my attention and handed me my prescription medicine. It almost knocked me out of my breath because the total amount reached almost P5 thousand pesos.
I walked away from the store with nothing left on my wallet- but just the same, thanking God that I was able to buy what we need, and in the process, was able to give a litle amount for another person in need.
Money making ideas for girls raising money for our church?
very touching. salamat at me natitira pa palang taong tulad mo. God bless you always!
Thanks for dropping by. Whether it is P40 or P500 or any amount… when it is needed, it feels like a million bucks.
Take care.
Money making ideas for girls raising money for our church?