Life often has a way of putting us in difficult situations, testing not just our endurance but also our sense of dignity. This personal experience is a story of empathy, struggle, and faith. It encourages us to see the dignity in asking for help, while also emphasizing the impact that compassion can have in restoring hope during times of hardship.
Have you ever been in a tight spot? Or perhaps, have you been in a situation where all you could ask for was just a little help, something small to get you through? I have, and I’ve seen others face similar struggles, but it’s often in these moments of vulnerability that we witness the truest expressions of humanity.
The Story That Stayed With Me
One day, my wife came home with a story that shook me to the core. She told me about a young Filipino woman she met in Dubai who was asking for just one dirham. One dirham could be perceived by many as nothing, but to this woman, it was everything. She needed it to renew her visa, a necessity to stay in the country and continue her search for a job. She had lost her job and was staying with a family in exchange for helping care for their child. During the day, she was fed, and at night, she had to line up at a mosque to fill her stomach.
When I heard that, it hit me hard. It wasn’t just the loss of money or a job that troubled me—it was the emotional toll of begging, of having to humble yourself in such a desperate way. Being an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is never easy, especially when you’re far from your family, fighting for survival in an unfamiliar place. And begging, asking for a single dirham—it felt like more than just asking for money. It felt like an assault on her dignity.
I thought about our own struggles. I remembered the fear we felt when we first arrived in Dubai, knowing that we had just one month to find a job or face the consequences of being undocumented. I remembered our time in Kish, a small island in Iran, where countless Filipino stories of hardship echoed in the air as people waited for their visas to clear. The uncertainty, the long waits, and the constant worry were overwhelming. I remembered living in a cramped partition, small and barely enough for the two of us. Yes, like most people, we too went through tough times as a couple. We knew those struggles well, and I couldn’t help but think that this woman, in her moment of need, was experiencing something even more difficult than what we went through.
A Lesson in Humility and Faith
In that moment, a Bible verse came to mind—Matthew 15:27. It’s a verse I’ve always found deeply meaningful, especially in times of great vulnerability:
“Yes, Lord; but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
This was said by the Canaanite woman in her desperate plea for help from Jesus. She wasn’t asking for everything, just the crumbs that fall from the table. And in her humility, she showed us that sometimes, all we need is a small act of compassion, a little help to make it through.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. The weight of the young woman’s situation stayed with me. I felt urged to help her in a way that would not only relieve her immediate need but also restore a sense of dignity. With my wife’s help, we were able to reach out to her, offer her a sum of money, and hopefully, show her that she was not forgotten.
Her circumstances may be different from ours, however I couldn’t help but reflect on our own journey. Quoting Fr. Dave Concepcion,
“We are able to give because we know the feeling of being without, of losing”
In Filipino,
“Tayo ay nakapagbibigay dahil alam natin ang pakiramdam ng walang-wala, ng mawalan.”
This resonates deeply with me because our own struggles have shaped how we view others in need.
When COVID-19 hit we lost contact with her. Still, I believe that small act of kindness mattered, and maybe, just maybe, it helped restore a sense of hope for her. After all, when we give with compassion, we help restore dignity, one small act at a time.
The Devastating Loss We Faced
In 2022 our family was blessed with the arrival of a healthy baby boy. But tragically, before he could even turn one, he was taken from us. At just 10 months old, after receiving two vaccines, he passed away unexpectedly in the arms of his mother, moments after praying Holy Rosary. I was in the kitchen at that time, trying to prepare dinner. The moment my wife called me, my world shattered. In my heart, I was screaming to God, “Why, Lord? Why us?” Now, I felt like I was begging for something I couldn’t even have—the life of our youngest child.
Grief is a deep and personal thing, but nothing prepares you for the loss of a child. And to add to the heartbreak, we were financially struggling, like many during the pandemic. We found ourselves in a situation where we, too, were now asking for crumbs—just a little help to cover the expenses for his cremation and travel to the Philippines. Our pain was overwhelming, but in our hearts, we were begging for something, anything. “Lord, even the crumbs, just give us something.”
How God Never Forgets
And then, God sent us help in the most unexpected way.
God never forgets. He answered our prayers. A couple, our fellow servants from St. Mary’s Catholic Church reached out to us. They insisted on offering their time and even on driving us to help fix the paperwork for our son’s cremation and repatriation process, which was incredibly difficult to manage in Dubai. What astounded us even more was that they had no idea of our financial struggles, but they gave us a generous financial assistance. It was nothing short of a miracle.
But the story doesn’t end there. We were surrounded by people—friends, family, and even my wife’s colleagues—who became our angels. They comforted us, lent us their time, and even contributed financially to cover our expenses. My wife’s company, Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group (KOJ) also stepped in, covering the cost of our travel to and from the Philippines and our stay in Manila. It was a reminder that even in our darkest hour, God does not forget. He answers prayers, often in ways that are beyond what we could have hoped for.
A Final Thought
Through this journey, I’ve come to realize that asking for help is not a weakness but a powerful act of humility. We all face struggles, sometimes so difficult that we feel like we’re begging for crumbs. But in those moments, whether we’re the ones giving or receiving, it’s the compassion and care we show each other that restores dignity and hope.
I hope this story reminds you that no matter how tough things get, God sees your heart. And sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness—a bit of time, a little money, a listening ear—can make all the difference in someone’s life.
Thank you so much to those who remembered us when we, too, had lost.Your kindness and generosity during our time of grief will forever remain in our hearts.
Faith Matters,
Bro. Paul Fuentes
