A Homeless Stranger, a Shared Burger, and My Dad’s Legacy.226
Last night, sometime between midnight and 1 a.m., I couldn’t sleep. Restless, I did what I often do a few nights each week: I got dressed, grabbed the keys, and drove around to check on our family’s vacant lots and rental properties in Brownsville, Olmito, and Rancho Viejo.
But this night felt different. The weather was cold, the wind sharp, rain beginning to fall. And for some reason I can’t explain, I chose to take my late father’s GMC pickup truck. His scent still lingers inside, his tools still in the compartments, his belongings exactly where he left them. On the visor hangs a laminated prayer card with his photo from the funeral home. Before I started the engine, I pulled it down, looked at his face, and whispered, “Hi Dad. I’m taking your truck out tonight. I really miss you.”
As I drove through the quiet streets, I stopped at one vacant property and noticed someone had dumped trash. I pulled over, grabbed a flashlight, and began tossing the garbage into the bed of Dad’s truck. That’s when I noticed him.
A man, limping slowly down the sidewalk across the street, drenched in ragged clothes. The night was silent except for the wind, and the sight of him unsettled me. Then, unexpectedly, he crossed the street. From a safe distance, he called out, asking if he could come closer.
I said yes.
He offered to help me clean the trash. His face was bearded and weathered, his eyes dry and weary. “I don’t want anything, sir,” he said in Spanish. “I just want to help.” His name was Oscar.
As we picked up trash together, Oscar reached into his pocket and offered me a small wrinkled bag with four or five stale cookies inside. Wrapped around it was a set of rosary beads. He had so little—yet still offered to share.
When we finished, I thanked him. He began to walk away, and I climbed back into the truck. But as I watched him limp into the darkness, guilt hit me. I hadn’t even asked if he was hungry. I pulled up beside him and asked.
“Yes sir,” he said softly. “Very much.”
I told him to hop in so I could buy him food. He walked to the back and climbed into the truck bed. Confused, I jumped out and asked what he was doing. His answer broke me:
“Sir, I don’t want to dirty your truck. I’ve been walking for days, I smell bad, my clothes are filthy. I’m embarrassed.”
Anger rose in me—not at him, but at the thought of a man feeling so unworthy of sitting in a seat because of his appearance. I told him firmly: “Never apologize for that. Your hard work is nothing to be ashamed of. Get in.”
Inside, he asked me to turn on the dome light. He held out his hands—raw, bloody, deeply calloused. For three days, he had been clearing brush at a ranch. The man who hired him never returned, never paid him, never even brought food or water. Still, Oscar had finished the job before walking away.
We drove to a Whataburger. I asked what he wanted, and he shyly pulled 16 cents from his pocket, insisting he couldn’t order much. He also showed me another set of rosary beads.
I nearly choked up. Did he really think I’d make him pay? I ordered him the biggest meal on the menu.
When the bag came, Oscar asked if he could eat in the truck because he was so hungry. I parked. Before touching the food, he lifted it with both hands, eyes closed, and prayed—thanking God and even thanking me. Then, hungry as he was, he cut the burger in half and tried to give me some.
I declined. He devoured it with gratitude written on every sound, every bite.
As he finished, he asked my name so he could include me in his nightly prayers, the ones he said behind the statue where he slept. Then he complimented the truck. I told him about my father, about how this truck had been his.
That’s when the night took a turn I’ll never forget.
I handed him my father’s laminated prayer card. He squinted, so I gave him my glasses. When he saw the face, he froze. His hand covered his mouth, tears streaming down as he crossed himself.
He whispered, “Sir… I know this man. I met both your mother and father.”
Shocked, I asked how.
“Didn’t they own a pharmacy and clinic on Price Road?”
“Yes,” I said.
He nodded. Then shared a story that left me speechless. Years ago, his daughter had been born with a severe degenerative disease. She needed medication he couldn’t afford, medication not available in Mexico. In desperation, he swam across the river to find work and help her. That’s when he met my parents. They had given him the medicine—without asking for payment.
“My wife and I always promised we’d repay them,” he cried. “But now I can’t, because your father has passed away.”
I told him my father would never have wanted repayment. True giving, I explained, expects nothing in return. And in my heart, I knew—tonight, Oscar had already repaid him. He had helped me pick up trash from my parents’ property. He had reminded me of their legacy of compassion.
Before dropping him off, I gave Oscar my cell phone number, telling him to call whenever he needed food or money. And now, my family and I have decided: we’re going to find him again. And when we do, we’ll give him a small place to live in one of our rentals.
Because sometimes, what seems like a chance encounter isn’t chance at all. Sometimes it’s a reminder—from above, from a father now gone—that love, kindness, and dignity are the inheritance worth passing on.
"Breaking the Cycle: How Parents Can Shape a Better Future for Our Kids".3941
The video, now viral, of a group of kids attacking a mother and her children has shocked the public and sparked reflection on what it means to raise children in today’s world. It is a stark reminder of a deep societal issue: a lack of parental responsibility and guidance, leading to a generation of children who are not being taught the values that will help them become respectful, responsible, and kind individuals. It raises a crucial question: Are we, as a society, failing our children by not holding ourselves accountable as parents?
A Wake-Up Call: Our Responsibility
Parents, it’s time to reflect on the reality of the world we are creating for our children. Our children are not just reflections of our genetics or our environment; they are a direct product of the guidance we give them. Yet, too often, we see children out on the streets, acting without respect for authority, without kindness to their peers, and without regard for the consequences of their actions. This is not just the fault of the schools, the teachers, or society. This is the direct result of parents neglecting their responsibilities.
As parents, we must realize that the education of our children starts at home — and it does not end when they leave the house to go to school. The responsibility to teach children right from wrong, to instill in them the importance of respect and kindness, rests with us, not their teachers, coaches, or peers. It’s time we recognize that we cannot afford to neglect our most important role: raising good people.
Teaching Respect and Responsibility
We’ve seen the videos. Kids disrespecting their teachers, bullying their classmates, and causing chaos in the halls. These are not just isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a larger issue: the breakdown of respect for authority and the lack of proper discipline at home. Yes, teachers are human, and sometimes they make mistakes. But it’s not the responsibility of the teachers to correct everything in a child’s behavior. That job belongs to us, the parents.
It’s essential to teach our children that the school environment is one where they must show respect — not only to their teachers but to their peers as well. Bullying has become a rampant issue in schools, and it’s heartbreaking to see children suffering in silence because they are terrified of their classmates. If a child feels unsafe at school, it’s not because of the teachers, but because we, as parents, are not doing enough to teach our children kindness and empathy. A child should not feel like they are walking into a battlefield each day, wondering if they’ll be the next target of a bully’s wrath.
The Importance of Accountability
The issue goes beyond school grounds, though. We have seen footage of kids lurking around the streets at night, peering into cars and engaging in suspicious activities. This behavior isn’t just about a one-time lapse in judgment; it’s a recurring issue that stems from a lack of parental oversight. Parents, we must ask ourselves: do we know where our children are and what they’re doing when we’re not around? It’s not enough to simply assume they are safe. We have to be proactive, involved, and hold them accountable.
More troubling is the fact that some parents, upon learning of their children’s misdeeds, defend the behavior. Some even turn a blind eye to their children’s criminal actions. Allowing your child to steal and then bringing those stolen items into the home is not just an act of defiance, it’s a breakdown of moral values that could have lasting consequences. As parents, we need to step up, acknowledge the problems, and take responsibility for teaching our children what is right and what is wrong. We cannot afford to protect bad behavior out of love or fear. Doing so only sets our children up for failure and disappointment later in life.
The Dangers of Being "Friends" Instead of Parents
In the modern era, there’s a growing trend of parents trying to be more like friends to their children than authority figures. We’ve all heard the phrase, “I’m not your parent, I’m your friend,” but this mentality is doing more harm than good. It’s important to be approachable and loving, yes, but we must never lose sight of our role as guardians, mentors, and disciplinarians. Being a friend to your child doesn’t mean excusing or tolerating bad behavior. It means providing guidance, showing love, and, when necessary, setting boundaries.
When parents defend their children’s inappropriate actions, they are not helping them; they are enabling them. Parents must be strong enough to recognize when their children are wrong, and they must have the courage to hold them accountable. By letting children off the hook for bad behavior, we are teaching them that there are no consequences for their actions — and that is a dangerous lesson to learn.
Taking Accountability
So, what can we do to change this cycle? It starts with taking accountability for our role in our children’s lives. We must ensure that they are being taught the values that will help them thrive in society: respect for others, empathy, kindness, honesty, and responsibility. Our children are watching us, and they learn from our actions just as much as they learn from our words. If we want them to be good people, we must set the example and hold them to the same standards.
We need to be aware of where our children are, who they are with, and what they are doing. Being a parent means being involved — it means engaging with our kids, asking the hard questions, and sometimes stepping in when necessary. Let’s make sure we’re not too busy being "friends" to do our jobs as parents.
Moving Forward: The Call to Action
It’s time for a wake-up call. As parents, we cannot continue to ignore the warning signs. It’s time to take responsibility for raising good people — people who will contribute positively to society and not be a menace to it. Our children are our future, and it’s our job to shape that future. We need to stop excusing bad behavior and start instilling good values. It’s not enough to just provide for them financially. We must provide the moral framework that will guide them through life.
So, to all the parents out there: Do better. Be better. Teach your children kindness, responsibility, and respect. Raise them to be people who make the world a better place. Because in the end, the future of our society depends on how we raise our children today.
