Maybe I should charge..
Not my mother of course, though she does give me gas money. I had told my mother I would take her to the bank today. Shortly before I left the phone rang. My son wondering if I was going anywhere. I told him I was and asked what he needed. A favor of course. He needed me to drop by where he works and pick up his phone and take it by the place we have our service with and get a 5G sims card as the card he had was not a 5G and wasn’t working as it should. Sure.
I take mom to the bank and we take care of the individual things we needed to handle. I then head toward where my son works. I get his phone and we head for our next destination. Mom stays in the car, which I parked so that she could watch all the passing traffic on the main road. I go inside and hit the jackpot. I dealt with the nicest lady, who was so very helpful and informative. We not only get the card installed and seemingly working, she answers questions I have had for a while now that no one else could or would answer. I walked out of there very happy.
I then take mom over to the big box store and follow her around as she picks up things that she had not been able to get the other day. Item by item we complete her list. Once we get checked out, complete with the bag of peanut m&ms that she got for my son we head for my car. Everything and everyone inside, we head back to where my son works. Giving him his phone I head for home.
Once I have mom home and her purchases inside, I go home myself. Complete with an item that my dad wants me to see if I can find out its value. Probably not much, but I’ll eventually check anyway. I’m waiting on him to ask me about cutting kindling but I’m not going to bring it up.
The weather people are saying we have rain coming. I went out with my garden carts and loaded them up with firewood and even managed to get them up on the porch myself. When I went out my nephew was out there with his daughter, who didn’t hang around and then his son came in from school. We chatted for a good half hour before we headed in our separate directions to finish our chores. If all goes well he is going to split up the big pieces of wood for me come Saturday. I’ll definitely do everything I can to help him as otherwise it wouldn’t be right. I hope he realizes how appreciative I am of his help.
So, no. I wouldn’t, couldn’t even consider charging helping out when help is needed. Even if its my son asking, because I ask him help so many times. Usually though he doesn’t have to go anywhere but sometimes the mental help is more valuable. For me anyway, what with me being so technologically clueless.
The way it strikes me, we each have the ability to help others. Whether it is to run an errand, give a ride, help someone shop, or straighten out a technological mishap. If you can think it, do it, figure it out, you can help someone in that way. Especially if you can and will do it willingly and with grace. Not expecting anything in return. Building up others, strengthening others, showing others grace and charity.
When we can do that, and follow through, we are proving that there is still hope in humanity.
Words from The Dirt Road 