X-Original-To:  christia@asuacad.bitnet, MB09
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 15:40:00 CDT
From:         MB09@SWTEXAS.BITNET
Subject: Re: Handling Beggars

A few weeks ago while stopped at a stoplight in town, my husband and I saw
a man who had a sign about being homeless and hungry.  I wanted to stop and
give him something, as I like to try to do if possible, but the light turned
green and my husband drove off.  I felt really bad about this, as we drove
home with the food we had just picked up from a restaurant.  I told Harold
that I really felt like we should have helped this man out.  To my surprise,
Harold drove all the way around town to get back to the intersection (on
a one-way access road off the highway).  We gave him some of the food we
had just bought and a few dollars.  I was also surprised when I saw another
man get out of his truck and pull some cobbs of corn out of the back and
throw them to him.  I felt much better after we had helped him out.

This situation, and others where I have given money to people begging got
me thinking about what could be done about the situation.  I thought of
maybe buying some food and making a few bags of say a "Lunch Bucket", granola
bar, and juice box, and a dollar or something like that, and have them in my
car ready to give to these people.  (Don't forget a plastic fork!)   This
wouldn't cost too much for those with limited budgets.

When I was in Houston two weeks ago, I went to my brother's Young Adult Club
meeting at his church.  Someone who does volunteer work at a homeless
shelter addressed this subject.  She passed out small cards with a map of
Houston which showed all the locations of homeless shelters along with their
phone numbers.  She told us to give these cards to the homeless people along
with a quarter so that they could call the shelter.  This is something that I
think would work well in a large city or anywhere where shelters are
available.  Unfortunately, there aren't shelters in every city.

Every time I see these people I am reminded of two things:

        "Then the king will say to those of his right, 'Come, you who
        are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
        from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you
        gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger
        and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared
        for me, in prison and you vistied me.  Then the righteous will
        answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed
        you, or thirsty and give you drink?  When did we see you a
        stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  When did we
        see you ill or in prison and visit you?'  And the king will say
        to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one
        of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me.'"
        Matthew 25:34-40.

and

        The only reason that I have anything in this world is because of
        God's graciousness to me.  Without Him I would have absolutely
        NOTHING.  I feel that I should share what He has provided me with
        with others who are in need.

May Christ's Peace and Love be with you,

Michelle
      _|_
       |
"With God all things are  possible."  Matthew 19:26
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU