The Beggar Man

'I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink'...Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?...'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Matthew 25:35, 37, 40

I have been meaning to write this particular blog since coming home from Mexico. In Mexico, there are many that beg on the street. Everytime I encounter a beggar, I always think of this passage from Matthew. I wrestle with giving money or not. I think that they may use it for alcohol, drugs, etc. I think will they really use it for food. Then I think, turning my back on the beggar is like turning my back on God. Sometimes I give and but most times I don't and when I don't I always whisper "Sorry God", hoping the next person is more compassionate than I am. Well, one evening we were in Acapulco enjoying our ice cream watching the street performer. A beggar man walks up to us. It was as if the whole world stopped and was motionless as this man asked if we could spare some change so he could eat today. In that moment, we could look into his eyes and see the desperation. There was no sparkle, no light, no happiness in this man. Ana, my mother-in-law, almost always gives. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a peso. I was so moved by this man I pulled out money. My husband and my father-in-law who are jaded urban people never give went into their pockets and pulled out money. The man voice no stronger than a whisper said thank you. Then he said "Can you help me write a sign?" My heart broke. Mexico has a very high literacy rate, about 90-95% of the people can read and write. So we wrote a sign for him, taking a great deal of care about how it should be written. It had a tremendous impact on me. I have always tried to treat people with dignity. You might not want to give to the beggar on the street but they deserve to be treated nicely. Even if I don't give I try to make eye contact and give them a smile to let them someone thinks of they are part of this world and not invisible. If you don't give or if you do please say a prayer for them.