I find it interesting to gather people's opinions on what the right thing to do is when you are hit up for money.
One very compassionate person said, "What would Jesus do?" as she gave the beggar a five dollar bill. But another very kind person told me, "I give to a charity. Giving out dollars on the street doesn’t help anyone, and only contributes to many drug addictions."
One woman said, "I give whatever change I have, and then if the person buys drugs with it, that is on their conscience. For my part, I’ve done the right thing."
Another yet another: "Honey, you need to close the Borchard Endowment Fund!"
Sometimes giving feels good, like you are doing the right thing. But other times it makes you feel resentful--signaling a boundaries issue--like when I opted to watch the bookstore clerk's daughter, paying the clerk five dollars an hour to do so. Man, how I'd love to get five bucks an hour from the sitters who watch David and Katherine.
I get fairly confused every time I try to set some rules along the "charity/Good Samaritan" policy in our house. For the time being, there are still no decision makers living there.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
Street people have hurt themselves too many times. They are rude and insulting and when they don't get money they will threaten you.
I have many stories on people begging money for cigaretts..not a dollar but five dollars so they can buy a pack..what gall. I think these freeloaders should be kept away from the streets. In Chicago I was stranded there overnight as my train from Michigan to Nebraska broke down and they provided a free Holiday Inn room so when I got up the next day I went for an early sunrise walk..it was just getting light but all around the hotel on Halstead St. were the homeless. Bums i used to call them ..sleeping in the street. Panhandleing and being a nuisance. I was lucky my young children were not with me but I could not get back to the hotel in time to suit me.
Yes, Chicago is nice in the "Micracle Mile" or in "Navy Pier" but around some area's it is "hells kitchen"..so I hate to say this but most big cities have this "blight". Washington DC ..our capital is OK to walk around in the daytime..but at night in Chinatown or around some parks by the White House it is not very safe.
The only city I felt safe in was Tokyo, Japan..but I hear now that even Japan is having a crime problem.
Thanks for letting me vent..I can't solve these problems..but I hope someday we will have cities that are not Ghetto's ..I was raised in a small town in Michigan..I guess I still am a hick..even if I have traveled around the world..
Food is essential to those who can't afford to buy. Many of the churches will feed the people. Waterville and Augusta, Maine are examples. The need to eat is greater. Shelter will become a greater problem in the months ahead. Rents, prices and opportunities differ in some places so keep your eyes open for clues and talk to someone who knows what is going on in the neighborhood.
i give if i have some to spare, at times luck runs out on all people, someone might be having a bad day, or really in need, even if on drugs your body still craves to eat and drink, no i don,t make any person situation the way it is, and i can,t help make it any worth by giving a hand full of change, some have use it wisely , then still others have did as they pleased, but i gave because i felted a need in my heart, i may one day need assistances, and who to say i will get it, but i do know i will not be ashamed to ask, and i may be turned down 100 times before i get help, but my grandmother always said, a closed mouth will never get fed, and no-one can read your mind , but god, knows your thoughts before you think them, in reality, life to be is about making choices that i can live with , and not worrying about what others think only about if i can live with myself with the choices i make
I'm a struggling single mom of 3. But I have a job that I like, I have a roof over my head and food in my fridge. Yes, sometimes I do feel resentful when a man comes and asks me for money( I've yet to see anyone knocking on my door offering to help me out with bills and such!) but at the same time I have to realize that perilous as these times are, all of us are just a paycheck away from being homeless. I remember evicion notices and having to find a place to stay in a week and no food in my house to speak of. God took care of me then and He blessed me with what I have now and I know that He didn't bless me just so I can keep things to myself. We are all blessed to be a blessing to someone else. Besides, every time we help someone else, we are also honoring Jesus because He said in the Gospels, " whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto Me!
Grace and peace
Dee
I used to give to the panhandlers until I one morning I just didn't feel like going to work - no reason - I just didn't want to go.
Suddenly the term "Will work for food" as often written by panhandlers make me realize I HAD to go to work - as I also WORK FOR FOOD.
In Nashville they are becoming "tag teams". 4 or 5 will take turns standing in the streets to beg for money, while the others are lounging off under a tree. GET A JOB - I DID!
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.