Don't Forget to Stop and Smell the...Garbage???

We have all heard the saying, “Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.” I saw this played out before my very eyes today, and it left me feeling inspired to notice the little things, or in this case, the “little-noticed” people, all around me.

Today I received a life lesson that has greatly impacted me. It didn’t involve the smell of roses but the smell of garbage.  I learned that each day, we pass by people without noticing them. People who appear to be doing insignificant things, when in reality they are doing great works. People who are invisible to us as we go about our day. People who work to make our lives better, and they receive no recognition for it. People who need our encouragement. People who are not asking us to notice them, but when we do, they flourish because of it.

Our Sunshine houses are located in a community called Matola Santos. As I drive to them, there is a wall along the main road that separates the road from the primary school. It is along this wall, about 100 yards long, that the entire community deposits their trash. Imagine the build up of trash from hundreds of families daily dumping in the same area. The piles of garbage eventually spill out onto the road. When it rains, the currents wash the garbage down the road as children play in the water. It is a health problem and an eye sore.

About once a week, a crew of 4 women come to clean the area. Using their hands and one rake, they scoop the garbage onto an empty rice bag. Then they hoist the garbage onto a trailer brought in by a tractor. One cannot even begin to imagine how filthy this work is…the smell, the rats, the decaying garbage. It is disgusting. These women come week in and week out to earn a living. It is the lowest of low positions. Yet it provides a measly income for them to feed themselves and their families.

As I drove down the road today, I saw the ladies out laboring. I said a little prayer for them and asked God to bless them with a treasure, maybe something hidden in the pile of garbage that they might discover. At that very moment, the car in front of me swayed over to the opposite side of the road, directly towards where the ladies were working. As I wondered what the driver was doing, I saw him stretch his arm out the window. In his hand were several 100s (each 100 meticais bill is the value of about $1.40 USD). One of the ladies reached out and took the money, and he drove on.

I don’t know who was more excited…the ladies who had just received the money or me! I was so touched by this man, who took notice of the ladies’ toil and shared a token of his appreciation with them. My heart was leaping! I was so happy because of what this man did. I was deeply moved as I imagined how blessed the ladies were that someone took notice of them and their efforts. And I was humbled that I have never thought to do the same.

I drove on but could not keep going. I had to turn around and go back. Not necessarily to copycat the generosity of this anonymous donor, but to let those ladies know that I also see them!

To the surprise of the ladies, I parked and got out of the car. I was sooooo nervous! These gals are hard core! They always look so tough and resilient out there hauling the loads of garbage. Would they accept my impromptu visit… or would they chase me off? Would they be able to understand my American-accented Portuguese? They were very inquisitive as I approached them, navigating my way through the piles of garbage. I began to thank them for all their work. Because of them, the community where our Sunshine children live and play and go to school is kept clean and safe.  I shared with them how moved I was by the man who had just passed and given them money. I pulled all the money in my wallet out and handed it to them, apologizing that I wished it was more. To this they responded, “God will bless it and make it more!” Despite the masks that covered most of their faces, I was able to see them up close and personal. They were not “hard” or rough. They were kind, gentle, and appreciative. They were the kinds of ladies you would love to sit and drink tea and chat with. They looked like the grandmas that feed you cookies and love you well. Their eyes were smiling and their voices were kind.  

I asked them if I could take their photo. I told them about my blog…that I share stories about my life in Mozambique with people in America. I told them that I hoped to write a story about the kindness of that man that would inspire people to do kind things for others as well. They were happy to indulge me…if only we could see their smiles hiding behind those masks!

From now on, I am going to be on the lookout for the unnoticed people that are in my path every day…people that I take for granted. The people that I breeze right on by as I busily go through my day, never acknowledging that they are even there…like the traffic police who are completely ignored at intersections and the security guards who keep watch all day and night to provide safety for me. I will no longer pass them by…I will stop and take a moment to do whatever I can to let them know they are seen and appreciated.

Wouldn’t it be great if you were to do the same in your part of the world? What if we all began to look around us and notice…really notice those around us? Maybe…just maybe, our world would be a happier, more grateful place.