I gave the most valuable gift one can give on "Giving Tuesday" - my time.

As we enter the colder months of the end of this year and the beginning of the next new year - we are supposed to be thankful the lessons and gifts we received from the current year, with the hopes that the next new year will be equally rewarding for all.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion.

I just moved to the west end of the city of Vancouver, Canada and I was out exploring my neighbourhood yesterday and as I was walking along Robson and the Denman street area, I noticed a Vancouver police cruiser pulled off to the shoulder on Robson street - no biggie, right?

The reason I noticed it, was because earlier I had just walked by that exact same location and I saw a homeless man (person,) sleeping on the sidewalk in front of a business with all his belongings scattered about. So, it was obvious that the business owner had called Vancouver Police about this homeless person in front of her business.

I watched as this homeless person stumbled and trouble walking (he had only on boot on his right foot,) and was carrying the left boot in his other hand. The two Vancouver Police Constables (females,) were deliberately ignoring this homeless person struggles (I say this because if I and several other people were noticing this homeless person 'struggle, than why weren't these two police constables noticing, especially when he is struggling less then 5 feet in front of their cruiser.)

As this homeless man (person,) walked behind the police cruiser and attempted to cross Robson street, he fell and collapsed face down onto the pavement of incoming traffic (neither police officer got out of their comfortable warm cruiser,) so I threw my coffee cup down and ran across the street to help this homeless person (the only other person to react to this was an older lady who stared in a gasp wanting to help, but not sure what to do.)

I helped this homeless person up (to his feet,) and held onto him steadying him as he crossed the street, I kept asking him why he didn't put on his other boot that he was holding in his hand - he mumbled something that I didn't understand.

When we successfully crossed Robson Street this homeless person headed toward the entrance of a parking parkade, so I followed him and watched him sit down on a curb. I asked him again why he didn't put on his other boot. He looked up at me, held up his two hands and said, "I can't because my hands are too cold."

So, I grabbed his boot from him and untied the knot in the laces loosened them up and handed him his boot for him to put on his left foot. He struggled to even be able to get the boot on, so I bent down (like a father would to his child and placed his foot inside the boot and pulled the heal of the boot up until his foot was fully inside the boot.

As I was tying the laces of his boot up a car entered the parkade and almost hit us both - I screamed at the driver of the black BMW that this was a person he almost hit "A Fellow Human Being," I yelled.

At the same time, I noticed two other persons in the parkade standing by their cars, watching my every interaction with this homeless person and my yelling at the driver of the BMW. They watched as I laced up his boot for him and helped to his feet - They Watched As The Homeless Man (Person,) Said The Words "Thank You," to me over and over again.

As these two bystanders watched my every move and interactions with this homeless person - my only hope is they learned an important lesson in humanity. IT DOESN'T COST YOU A THING TO BE KIND.

NOTE: If you're a police officer and you're reading this, remember you swore an oath to protect and serve all citizens!!

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