I'm too angry/disappointed to write good things today. And please be wary, this is a rant. It's not going to be nice or pleasant to read. I'm outing people, I'm blaming people, and I'm calling people to task.
Seriously. What is heck is so hard about helping other people? I need to know--are you too busy? tired? don't have enough money? Come on, what's your excuse? Here are a few I've heard lately: I work and I'm exhausted. I want to spend more time with my kids. We can't afford it. I don't know her so I feel uncomfortable. BLAH (I really wanted to drop the f-bomb here, but my mother will read this.)BLAH BLAH BLAH.
There are needs in every community not currently being met. Simple things, like food pantries are empty---why? How many of us went out to eat--even at McDonald's in the last 2 weeks? Now, how many of us took time to donate ANYTHING to the places or people that need help? I'm thinking few, and it is totally and completely pathetic. There is no excuse.
I'm sorry to make an example of my mom's group (I'm really not sorry--I'm actually happy to do it), but there are 74 women on the current e-mail list--do you want to know how many responded to make a meal for a woman with five children who is DYING of cancer--10. That's right, less than 15% of us had enough time/money to make a meal for a woman who is currently undergoing chemo and radiation. She is the one who doesn't have the time or the money or the energy to make a meal--please get over yourselves. I'm embarrassed and even more, I'm ashamed.
I'm also going to revisit the money issue. If you have internet in your home you can afford to donate to the food pantry. If you eat out, you can afford to make someone a meal. If you watched a movie on your DVD player this month you can afford to donate a couple hours of your time to help a neighbor shovel the driveway. Seriously, I've heard the money excuse so often from people who keep their heat at 70 degrees. COME ON.
Is this what we've become as a society--a group of people who think of themselves first, and foremost---often complaining about our lot in life to anyone who will listen. HEY!! Earth to all of us---we live in the United States of America--we have freedoms other countries only dream about--freedoms people died to protect. And this is how we choose to honor those who died protecting our freedoms--ignoring those around us who need help? Choosing to focus on getting more more MORE MORE instead of looking around at what you have that might help another person.
Here's the deal. We could all do more; from offering to watch someone's kids for a couple hours, to making a meal, to taking toothpaste to the Personal Needs Pantry--we are all capable of extending a hand to someone in need. I'm not asking anyone to go out there and change the world, but I am asking you to look carefully at what you have and choose to make a difference in your community. It's totally worth it--aren't we worth it?
I was raised to believe that you always get further in life with a kind word or gesture. I'm not perfect, there's always more I could do, hopefully we can all start small and let it evolve from there.
B.
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ReplyDeleteHeartfelt and as passionate as I remember. Maybe, just maybe, a wake-up call to someone out there. We should spend some time going over why Jen and I decided to give up on the private practice money gathering routine and return to an academic world where 40-48% of my patients are on state aid or state run programs for health care. Never been happier making less money than I am right now.
Thanks-
Joel
Beck, you are totally right and I am just as guilty as the next person. Sure, they do a food drive at the school and I grab a few cans from the pantry and send them in with the kids - but that really is a pretty wimpy effort.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder that there is so much more I should be doing.
Becky, you are totally right! We all see and hear the need...especially in church and tv we see and hear the need, and we all think to ourselves that is so sad, but we don't step up to the game to help! Look at what Christ did for us. Chrsit knew He would have to sacrifice HIS life so we may have eternal life!!
ReplyDeleteGod is not asking us to give our life up BUT to UNSELFISHLY help others so they may feel the love of Christ as well!!!!
Amen sista, thanks for the reminder and for some of us the rude awakening!
luv ya girl,
Jenna
Your ability to "rant" makes me love you more.
ReplyDeleteThank you for calling me out on a couple of things. Now that I am going to feel guilty if I buy a coffee on my way home from Starbucks, I am off to Meijer to buy a couple bags of food for the pantry at church!
Hugs, and keep the words flowing.
Your sunny days + running post got me curious to look back for this one. No one should take offense to the truth you said. Bottom line - no matter what we are doing to help others we can always be doing more. It truly is just a matter of time, which we could all use more productively. We are the hands and feet ... "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interestes of others." Philippians 2:4
ReplyDeleteRock on Becky! (I got the bible verse from the KGIF unit I'm teaching this week, as I usually cannot pull these from memory! Very timely)
Let me just add a note from the other side of this issue: the receiver's side. My husband was laid off from his job in Feb. '09. It's not a position in which we ever thought we'd see ourselves. Having been a stay-at-home mom for the past 6 years, I had to get back out and work for very nominal wages, but at least it helped. We made less than half our previous year's income. My youngest child was on WIC. We probably could have easily qualified for food stamps, but I knew there were people out there who needed that assistance more. But, we did receive food from local church food banks a couple of times, and it was such a blessing to have someone show up on our doorstep with 2 bags of groceries with no questions asked. Someone anonymously gave us an envelope containing cash so that we could buy Christmas presents for our kids. So, let me just remind everyone that you might think you'd never need to take advantage of a food bank or other charity, but think again! It's a very humbling experience, but I'm so thankful that the assistance was there for us. Thankfully my husband will be starting a new job soon, and we intend to make a much greater effort as a family to help those who are still looking for work. So, there's my input.
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