Tissue & Hope: The Struggle of a Tissue Seller Father for His Golden Years

Lubuk Pakam, Deli Serdang - (16/02/25) Under the scorching midday sun, an elderly man sat patiently by the roadside. Before him, neatly arranged packets of tissues in plastic wrappers awaited buyers. His deeply wrinkled face told the story of a difficult life, yet his eyes still shone with unwavering determination. Jestham, who happened to pass by, was immediately struck by the quiet resilience radiating from this humble figure.

With a warm greeting, Jestham initiated a conversation. The old man gradually shared his daily struggle: selling tissues from dawn until dusk, only returning home at maghrib (evening prayer time), and striving to provide for his family amidst increasingly tough economic conditions. "What I earn in the evening is gone by morning," he lamented, illustrating how hard he worked yet still struggled to make ends meet.

Touched by his story, Jestham made an unexpected offer: to buy all his remaining tissues so he could go home early. The old man's eyes lit up in disbelief at this sudden blessing. After calculating, the total came to Rp225,000, but Jestham handed him crisp red bills worth more—a gesture that left the man speechless.

The Resilience of a Tissue Seller Father

Tears of gratitude streamed down the old man's weathered face, becoming silent witnesses to his unspoken thanks. His trembling hands as he accepted the money seemed unable to comprehend such unexpected kindness. Until now, he had only known the harsh reality of street life, where people often passed by without a second glance. But on this afternoon, fate brought him someone who would listen to his story, understand his struggles, and offer help without being asked.

Jestham, equally moved, encouraged the old man, assuring him that every drop of his sweat was a prayer that would never go unanswered. "Your strength comes from your sense of responsibility. Believe me, God always sees the struggles of people like you," he said while gently patting the old man's shoulder.

As their encounter drew to a close, let us pray that this tissue-selling father's perseverance will always be blessed with strength and ease by the Almighty. May each of his weary steps on the asphalt roads be replaced with paths of ease, every drop of his sweat transformed into abundant blessings, and his patience blossom into happiness in his golden years. To this father and all life's warriors out there: keep moving forward, even if slowly, for no sincere effort is ever wasted in the eyes of the Divine.