I have an indigent family that turns to me for help. When I have, I try and give.
They have a daughter aged 11 years and 2 sons 5 and 3 respectively.
I often find the family living off bread and packet soup for up to a week.
The father is a security guard at a local shopping centre and relies on gratuities from shoppers while he watches their cars. (this is common here in my country where crime is rampant.) If he has made enough, he brings home basic food supplies.
The mother has a job but most of her salary goes toward rental of a single room where the family stays. I feel that I am priviledged to be in a position to help, but my problem is that I have come under some criticism from my family and associates.
"How can you look after them when you struggle to make ends meet?" or "You will never get rid of them!" is some of the criticism I have to endure. I find, at times, that I have to assist "beneath the radar" so that I am not seen to be helping them and invoke more criticism.
It is true that I am, by no means, a rich man. Artists, often, are not wealthy, but nobody, in my circle, including myself ever suffers any real want - there always seems to be necessities available when needed.
The greatest teacher ever born, Jesus Christ, had this to say:
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” And then He said: “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: “That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:1, 3–4).
This is another statement from Him:
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. “Then shall the righteous answer, … Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? “When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? “Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer, … Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:35–40.)
Yet, in spite of these great teachings, I am ashamed to say that doubts often plague me:
Am I doing the right thing?
Is this worth contention in my family?
Should I listen to everyone and leave this family to their fate?
My thoughts would be better served in prose
Mother's face is sullen and tired
As she stirs the steaming pot
The meagre scraps are added
This bounty is their lot
Her dreams long since abandoned
To a reality-filled daily grind
These dreams, our own resembling
Lay dormant in her mind
I bask in my comforts
Yet I can plainly see
The battle for survival
Could yet confront me.