Is it OK to give money to the homeless, pan handlers, and beggars? This is a question that I struggle with at times. The struggle comes with the thought that perhaps the beggars are drug addicts, or alcoholics and that by giving I will aid and abet their habit. Or, that they are lazy, and the scriptural admonition comes to mind “that if you don’t work you don’t eat.”

Recently we were back in the Pacific Northwest for vacation. My wife upset some of the family we were visiting with when we were touring an area near Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. She had spoken kind words to a couple of youthful beggars and had given $20 out of compassion. I was called over and heard their expressed displeasure because of it.

I knew my wife was going to give. She has a sensitive heart to the financial struggles and suffering of others. When we were younger we struggled to make it with five children under the age of 10. She remembered well when money was  given to us, it was a great relief.

I had been gainfully employed. I moved up the ranks fast becoming a Foreman at LoneStar Sanvelle in quick succession after getting out of the Army in 1985. Then, it went out of business. Because of it going out of business the Unemployment Office encouraged me to take the opportunity to take some courses at Mount Wachusett Community College. During this time, I was able to collect from the State to subsist on.

The money we were able to collect barely met our basic needs. We were grateful, but oh my it was tough to raise the family on. We began to pray fervently and stand on the word of God for our needs to be met.

The State Unemployment Benefits eventually ran out. We then began to collect welfare. Some of our close friends began to treat us differently. We were also being harassed constantly by bill collectors. The stigma of it was very oppressive and humiliating. Financially, this was the bleakest time frame of our lives.

God heard our prayers and guided us through those trying times. Shortly after my unemployment the Lord put it on a couple’s heart from our Church to take us under their wings. They helped consistently with the groceries for a good portion of the 16 months I was unemployed. When the attitudes of others turned sour toward us, theirs never did.

We worshiped together at Church. They fell in love with my family. Especially the children. They would occasionally hand out money to them and the other children in the Church on Sunday’s in a very demonstrative excited way who reciprocated in kind with squeals of joy.

After a long 16 months I was again gainfully employed. Unfortunately, the wife of this special couple passed away. Shortly thereafter the husband decided to move to Melbourne, Florida. Amazingly while there he purposed to save all the change over the three-year period to give to our children as a gift when he returned. Each time he put money in the container he said, “got to save this for the babies.”

When he moved back to Massachusetts he gleefully wrapped himself in my children’s joy as he watched them in their excitement grab handfuls of change from the large container with their chubby little fingers (roughly $400 – $500 worth total). The elation ran high for my children, like it was Christmas morning.

As we walked the streets of Portland and Seattle, my wife was moved by the perceived plight of those who were on the streets. We all make choices in life based on our circumstances, not all are right or wrong that contribute to our struggles.

There are many that will never darken the doorway of a Church. There are many who will never know that He answers prayer, and of His deep love for them.

To this day, I am grateful to the Lord for His provision. How, He knit this couple’s hearts with ours. Whose love and encouragement helped us to rise above the stigma of being unemployed and collecting from welfare, all the while assisting us emotionally and financially.

They demonstrated God’s love not only by word, but also by deed. I still struggle at times with the efficacy of giving to people asking for handouts. But, I know when my wife gave $20, saying “Jesus loves you,” she too wanted to demonstrate God’s love not only by word but also by deed.