We were driving home in a taxi and were slowing to a stop at a set of lights.
We had been in Jakarta for almost 7 days and our 'security briefing' was still fresh in my mind, "Please, please DO NOT give anyone (beggars) money".
A women approached our taxi. She was baby wearing with a sling wrapped around her body. She stopped outside my window where I sat with 3 of my children squashed in around me. The women looked directly into my eyes. One mumma to another. She motioned towards her baby. Please help me her eyes pleaded.
My children watched her, Initially not understanding what she wanted. I started to internally panic. The words "do not give anyone money" swirled around in my head. But here was this woman. A mother. Just like me. Only so different and living a life that I can't comprehend. Even when it's staring me in the face.
Her gaze bore down on me heavily. Especially on my 'mother heart'. How can I ignore this woman? What purpose will that achieve? What message will I teach my children about humanity? About helping others?
My children kept staring.
I rationalised. Giving away money is not the answer. There are other ways we will help. How can I sit here with my children and give nothing to this woman? Her sleeping baby. My mind raced back and forth. Confused with logic and the reality in front of me.
The light turned green and we drove away. I watched as the women and her sleeping child disappeared into the sea of traffic that consumed them.
It took everything in me not to sob. We were on our way home from church. The irony was painful.
The longer I am here, the more I understand on a practical level, why we are asked not to give money. But I am also learning, that doing what feels right is so much more important than being practical, and there is always room for exceptions.
One of those exceptions is on Sunday afternoon on our way home from church, when a Mother who is now familiar to us approaches our car and looks directly at me. One mumma to another.
.jpg)
