BOB�S BANTER

Help whichever way you can..! 

I once stopped behind several cars at a junction. It was raining and the wind was icy cold and blew relentlessly. Ahead of me a young woman beggar woman stood alongside the street rubbing her bare hands together and dancing in place to keep warm. Beside her rested a sign that read, "I have a baby and no food." She was obviously crying, likely from the biting rain. Homeless and unemployed people are a common sight in many of our larger cities, and we motorists drive by without offering assistance. We have been taught that giving money fosters a dependent lifestyle, or the ready cash may be used to purchase drugs or alcohol or another substance rather than the food it was intended for.  This, of course, is true, but I am reminded of a college friend of mine who encountered a homeless man on the sidewalk. He took some money from his wallet and handed it to the unfortunate stranger. His friend commented, "Why did you do that? He's just going to spend it on booze or drugs." My friend replied, "Yeah...like we're not!"
As I waited for the light to turn, I felt conflicted about that woman in the rain: Should I or should I not give money, she was obviously in need. And whether or not she actually had a baby? I gave up guessing people's motives and analyzing their stories long ago. It was cold. She was cold. And she obviously felt she had to be there.
What should I do? Give her money? What was best?
As I wrestled with these questions, the window rolled down from the car in front of me and a hand shot out holding an old umbrella. The driver had gifted an umbrella to the shivering woman. I saw the young woman mouth the words "Thank you" as a broad smile lit up her face.
As I debated, somebody else helped. As I hesitated, somebody else acted. As I tried to decide the best way to assist, somebody else just did what she could. As I did nothing, she did something. I saw her also walking back to a lean to hut against a wall where she placed the umbrella over a tiny baby.
I drove away realizing that what was important was to do something. Whether it is big or small, just do something. Something is almost always better than nothing!
Educator Leo Buscaglia says" Don't underestimate what you can do! Each of us can do something, and the something you do may be more important than you'll ever know...!
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BOB�S BANTER

Help whichever way you can..! I once stopped behind several cars at a junction. It was raining and the wind was icy cold and blew relentlessly. Ahead of me a young woman beggar woman stood alongside the street rubbing her bare hands together and dancing in place to keep warm. Beside her rested a sign that read, I have a baby and no food. She was obviously crying, likely from the biting rain. Homeless and unemployed people are a common sight in many of our larger cities, and we motorists drive by without offering assistance. We have been taught that giving money fosters a dependent lifestyle, or the ready cash may be used to purchase drugs or alcohol or another substance rather than the food it was intended for. This, of course, is true, but I am reminded of a college friend of mine who encountered a homeless man on the sidewalk. He took some money from his wallet and handed it to the unfortunate stranger. His friend commented, Why did you do that? Hes just going to spend it on booze or drugs. My friend replied, Yeah...like were not! As I waited for the light to turn, I felt conflicted about that woman in the rain: Should I or should I not give money, she was obviously in need. And whether or not she actually had a baby? I gave up guessing peoples motives and analyzing their stories long ago. It was cold. She was cold. And she obviously felt she had to be there. What should I do? Give her money? What was best? As I wrestled with these questions, the window rolled down from the car in front of me and a hand shot out holding an old umbrella. The driver had gifted an umbrella to the shivering woman. I saw the young woman mouth the words Thank you as a broad smile lit up her face. As I debated, somebody else helped. As I hesitated, somebody else acted. As I tried to decide the best way to assist, somebody else just did what she could. As I did nothing, she did something. I saw her also walking back to a lean to hut against a wall where she placed the umbrella over a tiny baby. I drove away realizing that what was important was to do something. Whether it is big or small, just do something. Something is almost always better than nothing! Educator Leo Buscaglia says Dont underestimate what you can do! Each of us can do something, and the something you do may be more important than youll ever know...! [email protected]