I have been guilty, have you?

I share this because I am just finishing a outreach that hit my heart that will not soon leave my mind or heart anytime soon.  We will be entering our next outreach with in 2 weeks.  Where I have to clear my mind and keep my soul open to the next stories I will hear and pray to God to lead us to help the next people.

I called a girl Saturday to see if she would be at the meal we were serving.  On a cell phone.  She lives in a shelter.  She has a cell phone.  You gasp???  OMG.  It must be one of them Obama phones right?  No.  You're wrong.  See, we rush to judgement.  It is a $10 added phone that her mom from Chicago pays for.  She left a very abusive relationship.  She moved here to hide.  She's been here  for months.  I meet her trying to help her find her an apartment and a job.  What you say?  They work in shelters?  Yes.  She works at a discount store for months at minimum wage.  She has children.  She is a sweetheart.  She is my friend.  She will soon have an apartment. GASP.  It is a low income.  But at minimum wage would you rather her stay at the shelter?  See,  she has kids.  She does get food stamps.  Does she gets steaks?  I don't know.  I don't even care. If she cooks one at the shelter and eats it on her cot,  I could care less any more.

There was a time in my life that would anger me.  See, my husband suffered an illness, and lost his job.  I worked at the nursing service and at the hospital and could get no help when I needed it the most but because I worked too much; I could get no help and was too proud to tell people I was hurting. For years, even until recently I would cringe when I would see ebt cards pay for an abundance of what I saw as high cost foods.  But since getting off my couch and getting into the community and seeing the real issues I have stopped.  I have also realized that God placed a lot of angels in my pathways along that way that stepped in when I needed them the most and helped me.  One time I didn't want to stress my sister out or my family.  I went to the boys and girls club in Bryant, Arkansas  to pick up my boys up and a lady named Melody Gately walked up to me and knew I looked stressed.  She said you know we have this back pack program and if you ever needed one or two, you are welcome.  I burst into tears.  I left with 4 that were loaded with snacks and food.  Obviously looked a hot mess.  Those snacks got us through the week.  I wonder if , Justin Powel, Suzanne Passmore. or she ever knew how much their hugs got me through that particular time.

Another story about Saturday.  That same Girl wears Miss Me Jeans.  Did I hear another gasp???  Before you do, let me explain.  All she had was sweat pants.  Someone gave her one pair of pants.  Is it her fault that all they own was designer jeans??  We are so quick to rush to judgement people.  We need to pray and stop being so angry.

Do people take advantage of the system?  YES!  Will it always be that way?  Probably.  But your anger isn't going to change it.  I promise.

I will share this with you, right or wrong.  I know a lady that was helped with outreach and she wanted to help pay it forward.  Before I could tell her no, she took her ebt card and bought a bag a groceries to pay it forward to someone else.  Right, wrong, or sideways, who knows, but her heart was in the right place.   So take a deep breath and lets find real problems that we can fix to get upset about.