Stopping to Listen

Have you ever been going about your day and suddenly faced a choice: keep moving, or stop and help?

One morning, as I stepped out of my car and headed toward the office, I heard a faint sound. It wasn’t loud, but it was persistent—just enough to make me pause. My first thought was, I hope it’s nothing. After all, I was already running late.

But the sound continued. Curious and slightly concerned, I locked my car and walked toward the shrubs lining the front of the building. The closer I got, the more certain I was that it was coming from an animal. I circled the bushes, peering inside, but at first I saw nothing.

The shrubs were low to the ground and thick with branches. I wondered how anything could even be hiding inside them. I stood still, staring carefully, hoping to catch a glimpse of movement.

Finally, I saw it—a tiny white paw.

Moments later, the smallest kitten I had ever seen crawled slowly through the branches toward me, crying loudly the entire time. It struggled under and over the limbs until it was close enough for me to gently lift it out. The poor thing was clearly hungry and searching for its mother. Though its eyes were open, it was obvious it was incredibly young.

Now I faced another choice.

There I was, in a skirt and blouse, crouched in the bushes, holding a tiny, squirming kitten that desperately wanted milk… and I was late for work.

So, I wrapped the kitten in a blanket, put it in the front seat of my car, and went looking for help.

The good news is that help was found. The kitten—only two weeks old—was cared for and is now thriving.

But the experience left me thinking about something deeper: what it really means to support something.

Hypothetically, most of us would say we support causes that matter to us. If someone asked whether we’d support a nonprofit that gives books to underprivileged children, many of us would say yes. If asked whether we care about foster care or adoption, we would likely say yes again.

But what happens when support isn’t hypothetical?

What happens when we find ourselves face-to-face with a situation that requires action?

How many people may have heard the same sound and hoped someone else would handle it? How many might have noticed the kitten but chosen to keep walking?

And then another thought crossed my mind.

What if that kitten wasn’t a kitten at all?

What if it were a teen girl.

Instead of mewing from hunger and fear, imagine the cries showing up as acting out in school, truancy, mood swings, or slipping grades. Behaviors that are often misunderstood but are really symptoms of something deeper—pain, abandonment, or the absence of a father figure.

At From Fatherless to Fearless, we encounter these girls every day. Many of them didn’t choose their circumstances. Some have fathers who are absent, others have fathers who are physically present but emotionally unavailable. Through no fault of their own, they are navigating life without the guidance, affirmation, and support every child deserves.

The question becomes the same one I faced that morning:

Do we stop and listen?

Do we step in to help?

The good news is that everyone can make a difference.

Maybe your way of helping is through a donation that allows From Fatherless to Fearless to expand the B.R.I.D.G.E. curriculum, reaching more girls who need mentorship and life skills.

Maybe it’s volunteering your time at events like What’s the Scoop?, helping teens learn financial literacy and build confidence about their future.

Or maybe our mission resonates deeply with your own story, and you choose to become a trained facilitator—sharing your experiences to guide the next generation.

We may not be able to solve every problem in the world.

But we can help the one placed in front of us.

Just like the starfish story reminds us: we may not save them all, but saving one still matters.

And sometimes all it takes is the willingness to stop, listen, and respond.

Together, we can start today—by doing something.