Before you kick the homeless, there’s something you should know. It could be you.
I know for sure that I could be homeless. I have made some bad decisions in my life. Yes, I have a job—but I have not always appreciated my job like I should. In fact, I still don’t. Sure, I have a home that I work to pay for, but so does my husband. Could I do it by myself? Maybe. Maybe not.
There have been times in my life when I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from, but God provided for me. There were times when I was afraid that I could not provide for my kids and I made disastrous decisions because of it. In fact, I have gotten married out of fear before. Fear that I couldn’t take care of my babies. I have gone through things that could have left me crazy in a ditch somewhere. Many of the homeless have mental illnesses.I could certainly be among that number.
There are all kinds of reasons that a person lives on the streets. Or in a car. Or in a cardboard box, under an overpass. What do you think separates you from the homeless on the streets? I can answer that—it’s grace. There are homeless people who are college educated, well-spoken, veterans who served our country with valor, families with children, runaways—all kinds of people who have gone through all kinds of things.
It’s easy to throw judgement from the other side of the street. It’s easy for us to decide what they “should” be doing, or what is best for them.
How about in the spirit of the season we just forget about our attitudes and opinions and remember that we are talking about people. Children, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews,friends, grandfathers, grandmothers, grandchildren…..and God made them just like He made me and you.
That’s all. Kick that around instead.
