Have you ever wondered why people are so poor?
Did you assume it’s due to addictions?
Did you ever believe poor people are unappreciative cons?
I must admit some of this has crossed my mind in the past. These thoughts changed, though, over the course of helping the poor through our Word in Action Ministries.
Desiring for people to stretch dollars in a failing economy, my husband and I founded this ministry in 2009 to feed the poor and struggling. Through our experiences, I soon realized many poor are different from my original perceptions. For one, most were super appreciative. Even ones who aren’t expressive, are appreciative – they just don’t know how to show it.
Wonderful friendships were formed and this community formed close relationships with us and each other. We helped them with food, gas, utilities, advice, instruction, and even shed tears with them in times of crisis. We learned their needs, personalities, problems, relationships, and began learning why they were poor.
One bad choice during your youth can throw you on the road of poverty. It might be a teenage pregnancy, marrying the wrong person, a bad wreck involving loss of a friend’s life, or a permanent handicap to your body. It could be following the wrong crowd landing you in jail or hooked on an illegal drug. Any of these choices starts the slippery slope to poverty. Not finishing highschool is a biggy, too.
Multiple marriages, back child support, job loss, and medical expenses are also factors causing many to fall into the pit of poverty. Whether insured or not, all it takes is one catastrophic event. One fire, one stroke, or one loss of life can do it. Without the right support or resources at your fingertips, then wallah! You’re poor. One woman lost her spouse to cancer, but was too young to receive his Social Security benefits. Even though she worked 40 hours a week, she lost her home eventually.
One night at our free meals, I was surprised to meet one of my special education students that I had taught sixteen years earlier. Meeting him again opened my eyes to how many adults were on SSI from our special educational programs. Public housing is limited and many don’t know how to fill out the applications. It’s heart wrenching. Equally frustrating is those who are poor from addictions holding them captive. Many of them were given alcohol or drugs by a parent or relative at a young age, while others turned to cover pains from losing a loved one or being beaten or molested. The majority arrive unknowingly by hanging out with their peers desiring a little fun that ends up begin the hook snatching them into a life they didn’t seek.
No matter the reason a person arrived on poverty’s doorstep, there are plenty of ways to help the poor, other than judging them.
Be that support to help them rise above.
Educate and mentor an individual.
Volunteer and make a difference.
Do you have any thoughts about helping the poor to add?
© 2015, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
Jena! Thank you so much for openly explaining some of the reasons that poverty exists all around us. It grieves my heart and I grimace when I hear anyone make a judgemental comment about someone else who is struggling or who has found themselves in a poverty circumstance. Love, compassion, and a helping hand can be such a blessing to those in crisis or in need. Word In Action ministry is an example of that …….God kind of love! Bless you my dear for daily reaching out and changing lives!
Pastor Robin