Behind the Cane and Smile of the Parking Attendant: "God Never Abandons Us"

Medan, North Sumatra – (01/05/26)– A middle-aged man was seen standing slightly unsteadily while holding onto his cane. Little did anyone know, behind his body that tried so hard to appear upright, lay a heartbreaking story he had been bearing alone. He is a parking attendant at a mini-market area. When Jestham approached him and offered free groceries, a simple question broke the ice. "Sir, why are you using a cane?" Jestham asked. Innocently, the man replied that his leg had been hit by a vehicle. The incident occurred in July 2023. "I was hit," he said briefly, as if not wanting to complain too much. Yet, at that moment, a touching journey began.

When offered the chance to shop freely, the man's first reaction was fear. "I'm afraid of slipping," he admitted honestly, due to his leg still not being fully recovered after the accident. Jestham quickly reassured him and helped him walk slowly. They began selecting necessities. Rice was the first target because the man said he had to feed four people at home: his wife and two children. Jestham did not hesitate to take extra portions, even adding eggs, cooking oil, and instant noodles. "We usually have a time limit, guys. But because of the father's condition, we're not limiting the time. We're just taking what is truly needed for the household," Jestham said.

The man's tears began to fall amidst the increasingly full shopping cart. Jestham asked softly, "What's making you sad, Sir?" In a trembling voice, the man admitted that at home, his rice supply was completely empty. His family had nothing to eat. He saw Jestham and her team's presence at such a critical moment as a form of help, a blessing sent by God. The man kept wiping the corners of his eyes, repeatedly giving thanks in his heart.

Slowly, the real story began to unfold. Since the accident, his family's economic situation had been devastated. "After I was hit, my life became difficult. I couldn't work. My wife has been working as a vegetable porter for two years," he recounted. A torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his leg made it impossible for him to walk far, let alone run. Even more heartbreaking was that the hit-and-run driver had never once taken responsibility. "The person is also struggling, Ma'am," he said resignedly. He could only recall that the accident location was on Jalan Kapten Sumarsono and that the police handling the case were from the Helvetia Police Sector. But until the day of the interview, there had been no news or compensation.

When asked what message he would give if the perpetrator happened to watch this video, the man took a deep breath. "Be careful when driving. First, it's a life. Second, if you become permanently disabled like me, the hardship is that you can't work." However, instead of harboring anger, he surrendered everything to God. "It's a trial from God, Ma'am. When misfortune comes, we can't say much," he said with full awareness. He had chosen not to drown in hatred but to make peace with reality while continuing to pray.

Even though he lives with a meager income, only earning from parking fees, which people sometimes don't pay, this man remains steadfast in his role as a father. "The hardest part of being a father is that you have to be a leader in the family. Not just a protector, but also someone who teaches the children," he said. He conveyed a message to his two beloved children: "Thank you for being good children. Keep that goodness. Be enthusiastic in your studies to build your future, my children." These words came from a man whose leg is no longer whole but whose heart is full of hopes and dreams for his children.

At the end of the meeting, Jestham gave a little extra money for his tricycle fare home and to buy medicine. Once again, the man could not hold back his tears. "I am touched, Ma'am. Maybe I can't repay you; may God repay you," he said sincerely. He admitted that although people sometimes get confused by God's plans, he has proven one thing: "God never abandons us. It's just that He comes at the right time." With his cane in hand and a grateful smile on his face, the parking attendant said goodbye. A reminder to all of us that in any corner of the city, there are always resilient fighters who give meaning to life, and that blessings are always brought together through the kindness of others.