lisa: that post cracked me up hahahaha mikes one lucky guy...that lunch must have been somethin that he never forgot...lol (mental pix of u, a homeless guy and a bunch of suits in a restaraunt) lol! lunch tmw is gonna be interestin isnt it?
Those people with the cardboard signs.
by Princess 26 Replies latest jw friends
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BeautifulGarbage
I remember when I lived in the Fresno, CA. area and the local newpaper, The Fresno Bee, did a big new spread about the cardboard sign beggers. Nearly ALL took the money they had received from kindhearted people and bought drugs.
I remember being approached by a whole family once in a restaurant parking lot. All were clean and looked well fed. The "Dad" had informed me that they had just driven up from San Diego and they had no money for a place to sleep and food. I asked why didn't he take the money he spent on gas and feed his family! Why would he drive 100 miles to a different city knowning they had no where to sleep? I remember the whole clan slowly backing away from me.
Back to Fresno.
The freeway exit I used to get to my home always had this same guy sitting there with his "Veteran, hungry need food, God Bless" sign. There he would sit in the 100 degree heat day after day. If a person can sit in that kind of heat for hours at a time, they must be in relatively good health.I would always make a effort to look directly at him. I have nothing to feel ashamed of because I am unwilling to give away the money my husband busts his ass for to feed and cloth our children.
That being said. I have a very big place in my heart for people that are in difficult circumstances and are doing all that they can to pull themselves out of it. To those, I can always manage to give something to. However, panhandlers do not have my sympathy. Sitting at a traffic signal with a sign to deliberately play on peoples emotions, and guilt, only evokes my disgust.
Andee
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LyinEyes
I understand what you mean billygoat. I am leary of the beggers too, but on occassion I cant help myself but to give some money at times.
The other day , I just came from the doctor and was so , so happy.
I had been waiting on the results of a biopsy and it was so long in waiting. I found out everything was just fine and I could go on with my life . Then I stopped at a red light and saw a guy , he was dirty and sad looking, but the thing that got me was his dog. The dog was as dirty and thin as he was. Sitting so loyally by the poor man. I saw the man sharing a small hot dog with his dog. It broke my heart.
I motioned for him to come to the window and I gave him some money,
he looked at me with a look I have only seen in movies, gratitude,and even shame. Maybe I was being scammed , I will never know for sure, but like you said it for me is better to err on the side of mercy. Leaving the JW has taught me that. And really what would Jesus do?Hygh , I had to laugh at you for showing the guy your wallet and pockets, I can just imagine you doing that ! Maybe he got the point huh?
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William Penwell
I recall an ad that was referring to addicts and it said something like "Maybe you can't save your friend, but your kindness did make a difference in their life." Some of these people are not capable of looking after themselves but we cannot forget we are all human beings first. Maybe by giving these people a few dollars is not going to save them or change their lives significantly but it makes us feel better that we can help no matter how small a favor.
I recall one Xmas eve driving home from work late at night. There was a young lady hitch hiking on the side of the road. She was cold and wet so I picked her up. She gave me a sob story about how she it was Xmas and needed a place to stay for the night. She told me she was working and asked me if I was interested. I handed her 60 dollars and said merry Xmas. She was surprised that I would actually give her money and ask nothing in return. I will never forget the look on her face. Maybe she went and spent this money on drugs, I don't know for sure but I showed her that there is caring people still in this world. Maybe that one act of kindness changed her life for good. I will never know but I did make a difference that night. Now is not that what Christians should be doing?
Will
"I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's."
Mark Twain -
LDH
Andee,
41 South and Shaw?!?!
He's still there, chick.
Lisa
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BeautifulGarbage
Lisa,
I lived out in the country. Jensen and 99. Let me tell you, THAT is one long red light!
Andee
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wonderwoman77
Chuck...
I got that statistic from my training class in working with the homeless population. I also heard the another speaker that came to my mental health class in graduate school, she said that the avg. homeless person is 9 year old child. I think this is striking because we think of all the adults that are homeless, but forget many of the these people have children