Does it make me a bad person if I say that I wouldn’t give it away, at all?
Before you start thinking I’m some uncharitable ingrate, who’d take the money and run for the hills at the first chance, it’s not what you think.
I was born into poverty some 50 odd years ago, spent years growing up in the streets, and in the last 5 years, haven’t had the luxury of money, nor the familiar safety of a solid roof over my head… that is, until March of this year. In all my travels, thus far, whenever a person is just given free money… most simply squander it! Handing a starving person free money is like offering clean needles to heroin addicts. How about this? Try taking your life in your own hands by getting into the water with a drowning victim, go ahead… you first.
Media makes us all lose our ju ju’s over the most recent announcements of how high the current Power Ball Lottery is… like each one of us were simply destined to have those winning numbers! But, how many will admit that they went right out and bought a ticket anyway, just in case? Gambling casino’s are filled with the hurting, the hungry, and the lost, all willing to bet their rent or food money for a chance at better luck than they were given at birth.
It bothers me that we live in a day and time where it seems that the well of human kindness has simply run dry… or run for the revival tents.
We have Netflix specials to display all those Lottery Dream Home’s, YouTube millionaires and professional gamblers giving money, haircuts, and new shoes to people sleeping in the streets. I don’t think Oprah’s free car giveaways to her audiences did the world any favors… Oh, life is hard… here, have a free gift… you get a car, and you get a car, and you get a car! Oh, you can’t pay for the taxes and licensing on said car? Why not?
The reason I said that I don’t think I’d give the money away, is because it’s foolish, that’s why! It’s much wiser to use the money to do what needs doing for those in need. If you feed a starving man instead of giving him the money to go buy it himself, the chances are higher that he’ll actually get fed, instead of shooting it, smoking it, or snorting it in a state of literal free fall.
Put that money into Food Banks, clothing banks, medical clinics, and shelters. Use the money to build a food bank, clothing bank, medical clinic, and/or shelter!
We need to get off our proverbial booties and get out there… do something to change lives instead of just handing out change!
My husband and I have been living off of nothing other than food stamps, for nearly 2 years now, and somehow we’re still here. That’s God, in my personal opinion.
So, when I consider what I’d do if I had an extra hard mil, simply laying around, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t know what to do with it, I’m sorry.
This is where cookies come in really handy…
Journey With Me! 