Panhandlers

I have been struggling with this topic for some time now.  

I'm not sure how much of this is going on where you live.

But there is LOTS of it where I live.


Panhandlers.

 We used to have some panhandlers from time to time, but it wasn't legal.


Now, it is legal and all you have to do is wear a bright colored vest and you are allowed to be on the median and panhandle.

They are everywhere.

Most have card board with something written on it.  


I've seen everything from, "please help", "I'm pregnant and hungry", "I'm a Vet", "Hungry"...and the other day I just saw one that said, "Why lie, I need beer".

Yes, some of these guys, maybe even most of them, are truly homeless.  Some may be living in the woods, their car (if they have one), or under bridges.  

You can never be sure of it, though.  

Ty told me the other day that he saw one talking on a cell phone the other day.


You never know if they are truly hungry or not. 

It's very easy to assume that they all have addictions.  The last thing that we all want to do is to give them money to just feed their addiction.  How is helping them get their next beer or drugs going to help them? 


But how do I know that they are all really alcoholics or addicted to drugs?


Is that for me to even figure out?


Being a christian, and a mom plays a spin on how I deal with this.  What message do I want to send to my kids?  More importantly, how would the Lord want me to act?


If our main goal as a christian is to become more like Jesus, then...


What Would Jesus Do??  Remember those bracelets, they used to be every where.  What a great reminder in many daily situations.


So this is what I've learned...


It's not for ME to decide if they are truly homeless or not.  


It's not for ME to judge of WHY they are in that situation.


It's not for me to WORRY about what they will do with whatever I may give them.  


If I choose to have a bad attitude about them being allowed to stand on medians and ask for money, I could pass one who is REALLY hungry.  

The truth is...it makes me uncomfortable.

How horrible and sick it makes me feel that I could really let someone be hungry...and just pass them on the street like I'm so much better.  Who cares if I'm comfortable or not?!  In fact, I feel like if I were to GIVE then I wouldn't feel so UNcomfortable!  I feel uncomfortable because I'm just sitting there, watching them walk by, doing NOTHING!! 


My heart really does ache for these people. 

I think about all the times that I've had family support and help and how so many of these people don't have anyone.  

Maybe their family is fed up with them and choose not to help.  But maybe they really don't have anyone.  Again, who am I to decide?  Every situation is different.


I still stand firm with not giving money to panhandlers.  BUT, like I said before, I can't stand to think that if someone is really hungry, that I wouldn't help.


A few months ago, I ran into a panhandler on my way home from the grocery store.  I had the kids grab a banana in the back and hand it to the panhandler.  

That got me thinking...


I've decided that we will start carrying some type of food in our car, so that we can give them something to eat.  If they decide that they were really looking for money and they throw away what we give them...then...oh well!  

I need to keep MYSELF in check. 

Where is MY heart?


Did I give cheerfully?


Did I try to help someone in need?


Is this what Jesus would do?


Is this going to be setting a good example for my children to follow?








Just yesterday, we took some fruit cups into the car, knowing that we would come across someone to give them to.


We found a man on a median easily.  

We handed him the fruit cups.  

He didn't toss them aside, ungrateful.  

Nope.  

He immediately went to his book bag on the median and pulled out a spoon that was wrapped, like it was from a fast food restaurant.  

He opened the spoon and fruit cup and sat there on the median eating the fruit cup.  

He was genuinely hungry. 

Ava was with us (Ty was at school) and we were able to help her understand what we were doing and why. 


We have SO much. 

It felt good to have compassion for him and to lend a helping hand.  

It was small, just a package of 4 fruit cups.  

Nothing that will last very long, but at least it was something.  


Can you imagine if we ALL did something small, how BIG it could be?