I guess I'm a sucker.

G.T. Smith

G.T. Smith

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Went to town today to meet up with some family members and I got there early. Thought I'd grab some beer and a McDouble. There was a young couple and their dog sitting on the curb at McDonals with a sign that read,"just hungry". I went across the highway and parked in my Mon's driveway and proceeded to eat and drink. I could still see those folks from there and I felt kinda weird eating and drinking while they were hungry so I drove back over there and gave them 10 bucks. I got back in the car and another guy came out with 2 big bags of grub and gave it and a few dollars too. I hope they didn't go around the corner and get in their BMW and take off. That is what my cynical Wife said probably happened.:rolleyes:
Oh well, I felt a little better for it and I just hope it ain't ever me or mine in that position. First time I ever did anything like that. Did I mention that I hate going to town?
Peace,
Gordon
 
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If they conned you and the other guy they will one day have to answer for that! But you will not have to answer for withholding charity if it was truly needed! I would far rather be on your side than theirs. You did well, you are not a sucker!!!
 
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G.T. Smith said:
Thought I'd grab some beer and a McDouble. There was a young couple and their dog sitting on the curb at McDonals with a sign that read,"just hungry". I went across the highway and parked in my Mon's driveway and proceeded to eat and drink. I could still see those folks from there and I felt kinda weird eating and drinking while they were hungry so I drove back over there and gave them 10 bucks.
Click to expand...

You got an idea in your head of what was the right thing to do, and you acted on that idea...which is more than a lot of folks would've done.

Bottom line for me is this: The last thing on your mind should be wondering if you got suckered. The next-to-last-thing on your mind should be wondering if other people will think you're a sucker.

You may have done someone some good. You won't miss the ten bucks. So don't doubt yourself for doing what you thought was right.
 
A gift must come with no strings, obligations or conditions. Otherwise it's not a gift. So, when you give, just give. Don't put a millisecond of thought on what the recipient does with the gift. In doing that you give yourself the gift of freedom and generosity.

It matters not what they did with your money. It only matters that you took the time to care about someone else; even if only for a moment.
 
G.T. Smith said:
Went to town today to meet up with some family members and I got there early. Thought I'd grab some beer and a McDouble. There was a young couple and their dog sitting on the curb at McDonals with a sign that read,"just hungry". I went across the highway and parked in my Mon's driveway and proceeded to eat and drink. I could still see those folks from there and I felt kinda weird eating and drinking while they were hungry so I drove back over there and gave them 10 bucks. I got back in the car and another guy came out with 2 big bags of grub and gave it and a few dollars too. I hope they didn't go around the corner and get in their BMW and take off. That is what my cynical Wife said probably happened.:rolleyes:
Oh well, I felt a little better for it and I just hope it ain't ever me or mine in that position. First time I ever did anything like that. Did I mention that I hate going to town?
Peace,
Gordon
Click to expand...

The dog is a little unusual, since keeping a pet is pretty expensive in and of itself. Still it is a nice touch if you can't find a kid to pose with you. I just dropped $70 at the vet and spent twice that on food and health care products for my dog last month alone, and often people spend a lot more than I do.

So I think I would cut my expenses before I went out begging for food and money from strangers.
 
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Rastoff said:
A gift must come with no strings, obligations or conditions. Otherwise it's not a gift. So, when you give, just give. Don't put a millisecond of thought on what the recipient does with the gift. In doing that you give yourself the gift of freedom and generosity.

It matters not what they did with your money. It only matters that you took the time to care about someone else; even if only for a moment.
Click to expand...

That is some powerfully positive thinking. I applaud you.
 
I always give money to anyone with a dog. And in the back of my mind I have terrible thoughts if they aren't using that money to take care of that dog. Well done today, some wise posts above mine.

My most questioned move: with my girlfriend in the car about 20 years ago I picked up a ratty looking guy and his dog hitch hiking through the Lincoln tunnel into manhattan. My GF was irate at my risk taking and what a sucker I am for animals in need.
 
I'm a Christian. I understand that there are two sides to charitable giving. I give out of my love. That was my gift. The receiver has the responsibility to wisely spend or use what they received. We each will answer for what we did. I don't worry about my end of it.
 
If you are a Christian and you respond to a need, God knows your heart. If the people took advantage of that it is on them. You did a good thing. I have been in this situation more times than I can think of. If your heart tells you to respond, do it. It is not about them, it is about you and your relationship with your Faith. God will sort it out. I am simple in that way. I believe in anonymous charity. Do good and do not expect anything in return. God knows.
 
When I was still a productive member of society I worked in some pretty bad areas. I carried small bags of dog food around in my company van and in the summer bottled water because of the many stray dogs I'd run across. Some were just to rangey to approach but many appreciated a meal and a drink.
If I saw a couple with a dog I'd buy a bag of dog food and give it to them but nothing else. I've gotten pretty cynical about people wanting handouts.
That's just my opinion, and my attitude is probably gonna reserve my spot in hell. G.T. Smith is a guy with a heart and I commend him for his positive attitude and his helping the less fortunate. It ain't me anymore.
 
These stories remind me of one related by a friend. As he started to
enter a small bar that held poker games he was approached by a guy
in a wheelchair. The guy said he was hungry and asked for money to
buy some food. My friend gave him some money, walked in and sat
down. The back door of the bar had a chair ramp and a couple minutes
later the guy in the chair comes in. As my friend watches the "hungry"
guy in the chair rolls up to the jute box and puts the money in it. He
vowed never again.
 
finesse_r said:
The dog is a little unusual, since keeping a pet is pretty expensive in and of itself. Still it is a nice touch if you can't find a kid to pose with you. I just dropped $70 at the vet and spent twice that on food and health care products for my dog last month alone, and often people spend a lot more than I do.

So I think I would cut my expenses before I went out begging for food and money from strangers.
Click to expand...

Around here these bums are nearly always young and able-bodied looking and almost always have a dog with them. They're on every entrance-exit to every parking lot in the town nearest me. I have come to the conclusion this is a lifestyle choice they've made. I have no wish to help pay for it.
There was one old guy I used to see in a wheelchair right at the entrance to Walmart with a sign. Always felt a little guilty for not giving him anything and so one day I handed him a few bucks as I passed. He told me God would bless me or something. When I came out of the store the wheelchair was empty, still sitting there. I wondered if maybe he'd been taken up to meet his maker but then glanced over into the parking lot and saw him sitting in the open driver's side of a decent looking car smoking a cigarette and drinking a soda. Work break I guess. Fool me once.....
 
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Good for you helping the couple claiming to be hungry. Perhaps they were. I'm told that we run into angels everyday. Sometimes they appear as people in need. God is watching to see what we do with the blessings he has given us. We are accountable for how we treat each other. I have not always done what I should have done. I try to help when when I can. I send donatations to the local homeless shelter. I also give to a number of charities. Not for me but for them.
 
I walked out of a lunch place in a strip mall in Las Vegas. A disheveled looking man rode up to me on a junk pedal bike and hit me up for a couple of bucks so he could get something to eat. I told him that panhandling was illegal in Nevada and to get lost. He cursed me out and pedaled off stopping to light a cigarette and then going out of sight around a building corner. I got in my vehicle and slowly pulled out to the point I could see him. He was chaining up his junk bike to a light pole and then went over to a nicer car than I was driving, pulled off his rough outer clothes tossed them in the back and pulled out a nice cooler type lunch box. He got in the front and proceeded to eat his prepared lunch. I wrote down his license plate number and reported him to LV METRO as a panhandler/con. I have no idea if they acted on the situation.

A year later while on patrol in the desert I ran across three old bums hiking across desert on their way from LV valley to Laughlin, NV. The temp was about 100 deg. They had nothing in the way of water or food. They still had about 30 miles to go. I went back to the nearest store and bought 3 gals. of water, 2 loafs of bread and 2 lbs. of baloney. I took it back to them and advised them to hold up in a water culvert they were coming up on and stay out of the sun until they could finish their walk at night. They were very, very appreciative. By the rules of my agency I couldn't give them a ride, but I did the best I could for them.
 
The Quality of Mercy


The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute of God himself;
And earthly power doth then show like God's
When mercy seasons justice.


William Shakespeare
1596
 
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