A sudden meeting yesterday left a mark on my heart that will never go away. As I walked, a poor man came up to me. His worn-out clothes and bare feet showed how hard things were for him. His quiet plea for help set off a chain of strange events.
I gave him more than $50, which was what he asked for. You could feel how grateful he was. What happened next, though, was shocking. He asked, “Don’t you remember me?” His eyes lit up with recognition.
“Ross!” I yelled as memories came flooding back. We went to high school together. Though complicated, our past showed that we had a lot in common.
Ross’s story developed, one of bad decisions: joining a gang, becoming addicted, and going to prison. He felt the weight of his mistakes in his eyes as they got darker. The end of our talk was marked by a weak smile and shaky steps.
As I drove home, I thought about how different our lives are. Similar starts, different endings. People often thought my parents were too strict when they were actually very helpful in guiding me.
I stayed on track with the help of rules, penalties, and limits. I was raised to have good habits, respect for older people, and make smart decisions. Ross’s freedom, on the other hand, had caused bad habits.
That event reminded me how important it is to have parental direction. My appreciation for how strict and loving they were grew. Ross’s story was a powerful lesson that tough love isn’t always a bad thing.
Ross is still on my mind, and I hope that life will give him a second chance and a better future.
