Not too long ago there was a death of a man that lived in
what we call "Tent City" here in our town.
Reading the article in the paper and hearing about this was so sad.
Some say it was an overdose.
This just breaks my heart. I don't care who you are....you know of someone that is homeless, depressed, a drug addict, an alcoholic, or even mentally ill.
Sometimes they are right in our own family.
Sad but true.
I remember when people used to blame the parents when a child made wrong choices. Some still do. But all you can do is train them the way they should go and pray. Families of loved ones who have gone astray go through far more than anyone knows. I know of many who have stolen from their own family. We hear on the news every day about murders that happen because of drugs. Babies are even sold for drug money.
Sad but true.
There are several ministries here in our town that help these kind of people if they want help. There is one in particular that I know of personally called Providence Ministries. In the article about the man that passed away in the tent city they interviewed Rev. Roy Johnson (founder of this ministry). He explained that many homeless people choose to stay in the camps because they don't have to abide by rules that are set up by ministries or homeless shelters. He said that they don't have to live that way but they don't want to give up their lifestyles. He added that there are also some that are mentally unstable and cannot make these choices. He also said that we should all use discretion when we want to help the homeless. Sometimes we are just enabling when we help. He reminded us that about the prodigal son. He said if they had made it comfortable for him there in the pig sty----raised up a little cot for him to sleep on and given him food to eat----would he ever have gone back to his father? He said he has heard of people going to the camps and giving them money. He said he guaranteed us that the next stop would be the liquor store. He shared how it would be better to give your money to a ministry that could actually provide food and shelter.
I experienced something like this one time. I was going down the road and saw a pitiful looking man holding up a sign. My heart told me to do something. My heart said that he was some "mother's boy". I went to McDonald's and got him a meal to eat. I came back and handed him the food. He actually looked offended and asked me for money. He did take the food but I watched as he put the bag on the ground and continued to hold up his sign. He wasn't as hungry as I thought he was. My helping was not helping. So I totally agree that we need to give to the ministries that help these people. Really help...not enable. I might not can go and deal with these people one on one but there are others who are called to do this and I can stand behind them in prayer. I might not can give a lot of money but I can clean out my stuff and donate to their thrift store. I might not can go cook and serve the meals but I can donate food to the ministry that knows how to help these people. I can do something. I am going to do something.
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Tent Cities, homeless people, drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally unstable, etc.
Sad but true.
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Prayer of Protection
Psalm 91
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As I sit here in my cozy, warm home I have noticed on facebook that Providence Ministries have opened their doors for the homeless to come in during this cold weather. I am sure that their are many more ministries that do this very same thing but this is the one I am familiar with and I know these people personally. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to those involved in these ministries. What an example they are for all of us.
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Alone, these ministries can do a little
but together, with all of us they can do a lot.
