My Dad two weeks before he died taught me an incredible lesson about giving that I will never forget.
Dad used to buy California Lottery Tickets at a little store in Huntington Beach, CA. back in 2013. So sometimes we’d be out and about together and he’d say “Go by the store and let me get my lottery ticket”. So I’d drive him, we’d go in, he’d get his tickets and come out, we’d get in the car and drive off.
One day we went to get his ticket. We walked it, bought tickets, came outside and there was a homeless man sitting outside. Dad reached into his pocket and gave the guy $20 bill. The homeless man says to my Dad “God bless you Sir”. “God bless you as well” said my Dad. We got into the car and drove off.
As we were driving, my Dad says to me “So are you going to ask or just look stunned all day long”? I looked in the mirror and my jaw was still open at seeing him give anyone money on the streets. I’d never seen that in all of my life, which I relayed to him while I drove him back to the facility where he and Mom were staying. He smiled and said “Son, if there’s anything I’ve learned in this lifetime is, you have to give back, and you can’t take this shit with you.”
Two weeks later, my Dad passed from this lifetime. As a tribute to him, I went to the same store to buy a lottery ticket, I walked in and bought a $20 ticket and came out to get in the car and there was a homeless guy sitting outside. He was a different man than the one that my Dad and I had seen. I sat down in the car and I could hear my Dad’s voice in my head “You can’t take this shit with you”. I got out of the car and gave the homeless guy a $20 bill. I turned to get back in the car and I hear a voice “God bless you my son” said the voice. I stopped in my tracks, turned around and the guy was gone. I could barely hold back the tears in my eyes until I looked up in the sky and saw a cloud that looked like my Dad’s face looking down on me.
I got back into the car, took the ticket, scratched it right there and won $20.00 on the ticket. The rest of the evening was very peaceful energetically. I still smile reflecting on that day in May of 2013.
Whenever I have a chance to give to someone less fortunate than me, I do so because of what Dad shared with me and how impactful this whole experience was for me.
If you want a chance to give to a great project, check out AmericaIsGreatAgain.com and read the top part of the main page of the website, this is for a great cause. You’ll help me, a homeless Veteran & you’ll be helping me create a book & website to help & honor other Veterans in perpetuity.