I don’t think I would have come to this realization and acceptance without Build Then Bless, because making an effort to help people primed me to be receptive to moments like these.
One summer morning, I was at a gas station when a man approached me. He was homeless, and he looked down at the ground as he asked softly if I could help him get something to eat. There wasn’t a story or dramatic plea, rather a simple, quiet request for a basic need.
Honestly, I felt a little uneasy after the interaction, but I didn’t dwell on the experience much at the time. Little did I know I would find myself in a similar situation only a year later and at a different gas station.
A young mother holding her baby caught my attention. She had been watching me from the moment I walked in, and I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. When she finally spoke, she asked shyly if I could buy a meal for her and her daughter.
At that moment, I finally understood why I felt so uncomfortable during the first gas station experience, and an old memory crept into my mind about a time I don’t like to think about.
During my childhood, money was very tight. I remember how hard it was for my mother to realize that no matter how many hours she worked, we, once again, had barely enough money for rent and nothing else. For many months out of the year, we relied on food banks to meet our basic needs.
Watching my mother navigate those financial struggles left a mark on me. Subconsciously, it made me determined to never be in the same position again—to handle everything on my own. Subsequently, as I got older, I did exactly that: handle everything alone, even when I could have used support.
A Hard Lesson Learned
I ended up using my Build Then Bless funds to help them. It wasn’t a big gesture, but it was enough for a meal and a small moment of relief.
Standing there with the card in hand and ready to pay, I grappled with the rush of emotions I felt as a child: shame, embarrassment, and sadness.
However, when my gaze met their eyes, I was reminded of my mother, how grateful they were for the help, and I saw her in their eyes. It was then that I finally understood, in a way I hadn’t as a child, that there is strength in receiving help.
Build Then Bless Primes Your Mind
I don’t think I would have come to this realization and acceptance without Build Then Bless, because making an effort to help people primed me to be receptive to moments like these.
More specifically, giving to others opened my eyes to courage and vulnerability I might have otherwise overlooked. And, in the process, it showed me where I needed to soften, where I needed to let myself accept help, and where I needed to grow.
Helping others isn’t just a good deed; it’s a mirror. It reflects the challenges we often try to hide, the strength we sometimes forget we have, and the humanity we all share.
Sometimes, it takes seeing your challenges in someone else to recognize it in ourselves.
