"Just Enough Income for the Family": The Emotional Story of Pak Bonar, a 62-Year-Old Father Who Prioritizes His Children Amidst Quiet Orders

Medan City, North Sumatra - (05/25/26) The quietness of the streets does not always mean an absence of blessings. Pak Bonar, a 62-year-old pedicab driver, still has the spirit to pull his pedicab to make a living, even though his body is starting to weaken. However, that day, fate had other plans. "Waiting for someone to hire me," he answered softly when Jestham approached him. Without further ado, Jestham offered him a blessing: "Sir, I have a blessing from God to buy some groceries inside. Would you like to?" Pak Bonar, who had been resigned to his situation, immediately nodded. "Yes, I want to." They then entered a minimarket, beginning a series of surprises that would bring tears of joy.

Jestham let Pak Bonar shop to his heart's content. At 62 years old, his spirit remains strong, although he admitted he is no longer as agile as before. When asked what basic necessities were most important for his family, Pak Bonar answered simply, "Rice, oil, and sugar." There are five people at home under his responsibility. Each time Pak Bonar took an item and said "enough," Jestham always added more. "I'll add more so that you can eat your fill," Jestham said repeatedly. From rice, large cooking oil, instant noodles, bath soap, to eggs, everything was gathered so that Pak Bonar's family could live a more decent life.

What caught attention was Pak Bonar's attitude of constantly saying "enough," even though his needs were clearly great. Jestham also observed, "Sir, you've only been taking one of each item all this time." So Jestham took the initiative to add bath soap, eggs, and sugar. The conversation then turned to his income as a pedicab driver. He honestly admitted that that day he had only made four trips. "Ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand rupiah. That is my income from this morning," he said. "But we must also be grateful. If there are no hires, we get stressed."

Jestham's question about the difficulties of being a father became an emotional turning point. Pak Bonar's eyes began to well up. "First of all, in education. I am sad that I cannot give the best to my children, but my children understand their parents' situation," he said, his voice trembling. Digging deeper, Jestham asked whether he had eaten dinner. Pak Bonar slowly shook his head. "I prioritize my children and my family, then only myself. Because I have a principle: eat to live, not live to eat." An extraordinary life principle from a pedicab driver who did not even know what he would eat for dinner that night.

When Jestham asked what he wanted for dinner, Pak Bonar's answer truly melted hearts. "I want to buy food for my children, Acehnese noodles," he said innocently, without thinking of himself. Hearing that, Jestham was speechless. She immediately gave Pak Bonar cash on top of the groceries. "Sir, use this to buy Acehnese noodles for your children and family," Jestham said. Pak Bonar could only express gratitude. "Praise God. May God bless the families that have given to me." Tears began to fall. He showed the adhesive bandage stuck to his back. "Sometimes it hurts, but I have to fight. I must be responsible for my family. I believe God never sleeps."

The words "God never sleeps" became the most moving conclusion. After all the groceries were paid for and loaded onto the pedicab, Pak Bonar could no longer hold back his tears. "This is extraordinary. This is truly the hand of God," he said, sobbing. Jestham then encouraged him, "It is the hand of God, Sir. Praise God." A blessing for your family, Sir. "The story of Pak Bonar, the elderly pedicab driver who prioritizes his children's meals over his own, is a reminder that blessings do not always come from busy places. Sometimes, in the quietest corners of the roadside, God is arranging a surprise through the sincere hands of people like Jestham.