As much as I hate to admit it, I learned something from my husband a few days ago. He and I were running errands at a shopping center when a street person, called out.
“Do you have any money? I’m hungry.”
We shook our heads and continued into the store, where I bought a standing desk so I can write my blogs and books. We don’t carry cash with us, so we couldn’t give her anything.
Absorbed with my purchase, I quickly forgot about her. But my husband didn’t shake it off as easily. As long as I’ve known him, he has given money to street people, his “street tax” for working in the city.
Not being as generous, I’ve had to consider my own values. Slowly I’ve begun to change. One of my first donations was to a young man playing his guitar, accompanied by his dog, at a shopping center. I’d walked past, then turned around and dropped money in his guitar case, “My son is a musician,” Having a dog with him had helped, too.
As a person who has always had easy access to good food—and frequently a weight problem—I’ve become concerned about people being hungry. So, I donate food to the local food bank my church supports and send checks to the city food bank. And, I’ve started giving “handouts” to people on the street.
One of these I’ve written about already—the man who approached me in a parking lot, saying he wasn’t asking for money but he was hungry. Could I buy him food when I went into the store? I kept looking for the scam but there seemed to be none, so I did. I imagine the real cost was to his dignity.
I still have room to grow in helping street people who seemingly don’t have jobs, could be running a scam or could be using my money for something other than food. But, I am choosing not to think that, and on this day, my husband provided valuable insight.
Being unable to give this woman something had bothered him long after we made our purchase. We discussed it, saying we might start carrying some cash with us. He also said something else.
“I would have felt better if I could have given her some money.”
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