kinship

On Sunday I took my daughter shopping.  She had earned quite a bit of money and wanted to buy a new purse.  (She knows that I will not spend hundreds of dollars on purses so she has to earn money for that on her own.)  We had a nice time shopping and she indeed found a purse she liked.  I used my card to make the purchase so I could earn points and she handed me 10 $20 bills.


On our way out of the shopping center there was a woman holding a sign asking for money.....it said she did have a job but needed money for clothing.  


I usually do give money to people who ask or hold signs on the street..... a couple of dollars.  And, generally, I don't carry much cash.   I rolled down the window and opened my wallet and saw all those $20......  How could I not give her one?  I instructed my daughter to hand her one and she gave me a look like it was too much but in my heart I felt it was right.


As the woman took the money our eyes met and she sincerely thanked me. I thought I could do more....but she thought it was a lot.  


Though there are old thought patterns housed in my brain regarding how other people are and whether we should give money out and what people actually do with the money, ect......


My boundaries expanded.....  


There seemed to me to be an exchange between this woman and me......like each of us felt our humanity; our sameness; a kinship........ 


I trusted her to live her life.  


She trusted me to live mine.