What do you do? Jun 15
Sweet tea and a salad. That was what I was craving tonight for dinner and so we made a stop at McAllister's to suffice my hunger. On the way out, this woman stopped us. As Aaron halfway rolled down my window, she began her story. From California, the police were putting she and her two children up in a hotel due to an abusive situation. Tonight was her son's birthday. She had been to several churches in the area and they all told her to come back when their food bank was open later in the week. Could we take her to the store so she could buy food to make her son a special dinnner? No, she didn't want the money or fast food...the dollar could go further at the grocery store she said.
My mind was racing. Aaron's was too. What should we do? I immediately thought: Did she just not pull up in the Mercades next to us? I asked her that. She pointed to another beat up car and said that was hers. Aaron and I softly spoke to one another trying to figure out what to do. Sure, Kroger was literally feet away but we had two little girls in the back seat, one just days old. We didn't want to take the time or risk our family's safety to walk in with her, etc.
We ended up giving her 5 bucks. With tears in my eyes, I shared with her the cross of Christ and the Hope of the Lord. I told her that I prayed she would use the money as she was telling us she was going to use it. She told me to quit crying (little did she knew I had just had a baby 5 days ago and my hormones are extremely wacko) and that she was a Christian.
We drove away a bit distraught wondering had we done the right thing? Ideally, we should have taken her into the store and watched her buy the items. Or walked her into McAllister's to buy food for her. If the police had really put her up in a hotel, would they not provide food for her too? Why would churches turn her away? Where were her kids? Was she just looking for the money for her next high?
Ironically, I just shared a conversation about situations like these with a group of friends last weekend. It's hard. I'm not one to have a difficult time saying no. Tonight, my heart just would not let me. Maybe it was just my emotions getting the best of me. Maybe she really was sincere.
My question still remains: What do you do in situations like these?
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3 Comments
Hugs to both of you. I know that was a hard decision to make. The proud part of me would like to say I'd have gone in and taken her shopping, but the honest part knows I probably wouldn't have and would have gone home feeling guilty. However, you did share Christ with her and whether or not she used the money like she promised she would, the seeds are planted.
Congratulations on your beautiful new daughter!
I was talking about this the other night with some friends.... I tend to think that it's not our responsibility to discern the motives behind people who are needy. Jesus told us to give to the poor, and of course it's important to be wise in the way we do it, but I think what happens after that money/food leaves our hands is up to God. That is a tough situation, though, Laurin, I probably would've cried, too, having just had a baby! =)
So I've stumbled across your blog (which I really like by the way) and thought that I'd post my two cents on this topic. I think that we really have to be sensitive to how God is leading us in each situation. I generally will not give money to a "pan-handler" because I don't want to help feed an addiction. That being said, I also want to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and really help those who are in need. A while back, I was in the parking lot of Jason's deli with my family when we were approached by someone asking for money for food. This man had a little boy w/ him, so he didn't seem so threatening. We told him that we wouldn't give him money but we'd buy him and his son dinner. He took us up on that offer, and we ate together in Jason's Deli. Jon got to hear about his life and share Christ with him. That situation turned out well, but it didn't have to. Maybe God will call us to help someone who will "abuse" our help. He gives us as parents the responsibility of protecting our children, but could he call us to do something that puts them in "danger"?
I totally agree w/ Emily. I would of been crying too.
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