I have an indigent family that turns to me for help. When I have, I try and give.
They have a daughter aged 11 years and 2 sons 5 and 3 respectively.
I often find the family living off bread and packet soup for up to a week.
The father is a security guard at a local shopping centre and relies on gratuities from shoppers while he watches their cars. (this is common here in my country where crime is rampant.) If he has made enough, he brings home basic food supplies.
The mother has a job but most of her salary goes toward rental of a single room where the family stays. I feel that I am priviledged to be in a position to help, but my problem is that I have come under some criticism from my family and associates.
"How can you look after them when you struggle to make ends meet?" or "You will never get rid of them!" is some of the criticism I have to endure. I find, at times, that I have to assist "beneath the radar" so that I am not seen to be helping them and invoke more criticism.
It is true that I am, by no means, a rich man. Artists, often, are not wealthy, but nobody, in my circle, including myself ever suffers any real want - there always seems to be necessities available when needed.
The greatest teacher ever born, Jesus Christ, had this to say:
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” And then He said: “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: “That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:1, 3–4).
This is another statement from Him:
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. “Then shall the righteous answer, … Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? “When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? “Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer, … Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:35–40.)
Yet, in spite of these great teachings, I am ashamed to say that doubts often plague me:
Am I doing the right thing?
Is this worth contention in my family?
Should I listen to everyone and leave this family to their fate?
My thoughts would be better served in prose
Mother's face is sullen and tired
As she stirs the steaming pot
The meagre scraps are added
This bounty is their lot
Her dreams long since abandoned
To a reality-filled daily grind
These dreams, our own resembling
Lay dormant in her mind
I bask in my comforts
Yet I can plainly see
The battle for survival
Could yet confront me.
You should do as you damn well see fit. It's illogical that people are taught or rather commanded to share when they are children then advised to be cold-hearted creeps when they're adults. Do what you feel is right and feel good about it. Feel pity for the people incapable of doing that anymore.
Thanks @abuyeti. Thye family are doing well now and have moved to a better home for the kids. Here's hoping that they will remain healthy.
I believe you are inspired in your efforts. I believe it would be folly to ignore these promptings.
When you are in the service of your fellow man, you are only in the service of your God. Let not the beggar raise his petition to you in vain.
If you want blessings, distribute them. If you want mercy, grant it. If you want love, give it.
Ignore those who would have you doubt the Lord and His promises.
I believe you aught to strive to steer this family toward improving their chances, by sharing principles of self reliance as laid out by Him whom you have alluded to.
Maybe you and I could visit this family sometime and share our "riches" with them.
Thank you @graviton. This is exactly what I needed to hear
perfet post ! l like it !
Thank you!!
Listen to YOUR heart!
'The world is not being destroyed by bad people" but by those " good people who sit and do nothing!"
Teaching a man to fish in the desert, is not going to feed him.
There is a song w/ the lyrics " If we are the hands of Christ why are we not reaching"
Namaste!
Thank you @jesse2you. I am encouraged by your reply. Namaste!
Your Heart is in the right place, Very Good Poetry. I ask " How can helping someone in need ,be wrong?"
My family can cause doubts. I almost have to "sneak" help to these folks
This reminds me of the story of the Starfish.
Im not sure if you are familiar with it, but it goes along the lines of a man taking a stroll on the beach.
As he walked along the shore he saw that the storm the night before had caused starfish to be swept up to the shore for as far as he could see.
In the distance he saw a boy picking up one starfish at a time and throwing it back into the ocean, As he reached the boy, he told that boy that there are so many starfish , that the boy will not make much of a difference.
The boy looked at him and picked up a starfish and threw it as far as he could into the water , saying ' it made a difference to that one'.
I will remember the starfishwhen this all gets to me
I'm glad I could help in some tiny way.