Yesterday was an interesting day.
First, I found this Lucky Penny. It’s quite beat up, so I had to inspect it carefully, YES, it was a penny.
The penny put me in a good mood in spite of our cold weather.
I went to the grocery store. I got a basket and headed for the vegetables.
I was approached by a man (homeless?) asking for money.
I was caught off guard. What do I do?
MANY things went through my head. Do I help, but then he will do this regularly “in the store,” not acceptable.
Anyhow, did not offer help.
A few minutes later, this same man approached me again.
WHAT… I thought, “Is God testing me?”
I thought of those fables when the Prince is on the horse rushing somewhere. He sees an old looking peasant woman who asks for help, but really she is a witch who can cast spells. Does he help or not?
This was a dilemma. We do want to help people. I didn’t have any cash with me. Oh, I had my LUCKY PENNY!!
These are tricky situations! That’s why I keep thinking I was being tested…. What do you think?
Brilliant Viewpoint 
I probably would have given something. The other day, I was approached as I was getting my groceries to the car. I was in a good mood and on my way home. Good buys, feeling good and this teenager approached me about donating for a football league. Out of the blue, and then he asked me, “Do you like football?” I said, “Yes.” I then looked in my wallet and only had a $10. I was intending to give him $2. I asked “Do you have change?” He said, “No.” So, I said, “sorry and moved on.’ Then I asked him the name and area of the football league and he mentioned a school far away. Confused me and made me wonder. But LUCKY PENNY. Were you being tested? I think I might have been, also tested by this teenager. I then watched him keep getting no’s from other customers making me wonder if they knew something I didn’t.
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My recommendation is that nowadays, we need to be careful. There are so many ways to help. For example, a message went around that our post man did not have warm enough clothes. There was an outpouring of help, gift cards to Amazon for him. I’d prefer to go that route. We have a great post man. If we are doing good in some way, that’s what counts.
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That’s a tough one. There’s a mom who sits in the parking lot at our grocery store with a sign asking for money. She always has a child with her. I’ll hand her food on my way out and she doesn’t seem happy about it. When they only want money, I think it’s a scam.
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Yes, it’s hard to know. The food you give her might not be what she likes or needs. A friend said, if they can sit in the same place on the street every day, it means they are disciplined and can get a job.
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It’s very wrong to panhandle in the store. You should report him to security or a member of management. When I am accosted by a beggar I give them the name of a couple of charitable organizations that never turn anyone away for any reason. “I give my donations to the Salvation Army because every penny I give goes right back to the people that need help and they won’t turn you away.” I give to that one and a couple of others but when you try to refer a panhandler there they become very agitated. they wanted money to support a habit, not help.
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