Words below are from the heart of my friend Elisabeth, the Financial Literacy Counselor at HOTEL INC. Thats an acronym for Helping others through extending love in the name of Christ. . . In the past, homelessness didnt have a face because I was too afraid to look at the faces attached to this terrible situation. What was I afraid of? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe I was more worried about being uncomfortable. Maybe Hollywoods perception had muddied my beliefs. Little did I know that one day homelessness would be my own face and many others that I cared about. I was afraid of a veteran who calls his Mom. I was afraid of a kid who is too ashamed to call his mom. I was afraid of a single mom whose husband left her after 12 years for greener pastures and less responsibility. I was afraid of 3 little kids, victims of their parents poor choices in life. I was afraid of the lost mind due to events I cant even fathom because evil that deep doesnt even seem to be possible. I was afraid of some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life! I was afraid of a person that will help others carry their food bags. I was afraid of a woman that has the patience of Job and has lost nearly as much but she hasnt lost her faith in our Lord. I have come to determine that I was afraid of my own inability to act. I was ashamed of noticing but not feeling compelled to change something. Now, Im not afraid. I have a new way of looking at my homeless FRIENDS now. Im heartbroken. I dont have a quick solution. I cant make money fall out of the sky for a person that makes $721/mo. I cant give a job to someone that I know is willing to work hard. I cant bring a passed spouse, parent or child back. I cant make the hands of time move or cut red tape any faster. Sometimes I can only pray, cry, rejoice, hug and love. But I CAN look each person in the face, in the eyes. I can give love and respect to another person that God loves just as much as He loves me. I can act . I can move. And I can SEE without looking away. And I can ask you to do the same. You dont have to hand money out the window. But you can learn other ways to help. And if nothing else, I will ask you to pray for my friends. Because God doesnt just love people that live in houses.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 00:59:23 +0000