Trail of Kindness: Jestham's Journey and the Unwavering Spirit of a Father

Lubuk Pakam, Deli Serdang—(25/02/25) On a sunny afternoon, Jestham continued his mission of kindness by approaching a middle-aged man collecting recyclables in front of a convenience store. "Excuse me, sir. What are you doing?" Jestham asked warmly. "Just gathering some bottles to sell later," the man replied with a modest smile. Without hesitation, Jestham invited him to go grocery shopping. "If God provides, shall we shop inside, sir?" The man nodded enthusiastically, secured his pedicab, and followed Jestham into the store.

A heartfelt conversation unfolded among the aisles of staple goods. Mr. Irfan, a 57-year-old pedicab driver, had resorted to collecting bottles to supplement his meager income. "This is just a side job, Ma'am. When there are no passengers, I have to find other ways," he shared softly. Despite working from 5 AM to 10 PM daily, his earnings rarely matched his efforts. "If I make 50,000 rupiah a day, I'm already grateful," he confessed.

Moved by Mr. Irfan's perseverance, Jestham offered him a special opportunity: two minutes of free shopping, allowing him to take whatever he needed. As the timer started, Mr. Irfan moved swiftly, grabbing rice, cooking oil, eggs, instant noodles, coffee, soap, and other essentials. Jestham cheered him on: "Hurry, sir! Grab more! Take extra rice!" Mr. Irfan's face glowed with a mix of nervousness and joy.

After shopping, Jestham and Mr. Irfan chatted while waiting at the checkout. His family's struggles ran deeper than expected. "We often run out of rice at home, Ma'am. Times are hard," he murmured. Yet, he refused to give up. His two children had graduated from a prestigious university in Sumatra. "We do everything we can for our kids. After all, wealth isn't something you take to the grave," he said wisely.

Jestham couldn't hide his admiration. He reminded Mr. Irfan to always include God in his life's journey. "Sir, who gives us our blessings?" Jestham asked. "God," Mr. Irfan answered firmly. "Then don't let work keep you from Sunday worship," Jestham gently advised. Touched, Mr. Irfan nodded in agreement.

As an extra gesture, Jestham handed him additional money. "Here's a little more for other needs," he said. Mr. Irfan's eyes welled up in disbelief. "Thank you so much, Ma'am. May you have a long and healthy life," he uttered emotionally. Jestham also slipped some frozen food into his bags, noticing he hadn't taken any earlier.

The day's kindness mission ended with smiles and sincere prayers. May God reward each of Mr. Irfan's weary steps with unexpected blessings, turning his hardships into ease. Keep going, sir! Behind today's struggles, God is preparing a beautiful story of miracles for your family. May these small acts of kindness bring comfort to your enduring perseverance.