Saturday, December 1, 2007

But Are They Worthy ENOUGH!

This morning at the Christmas Parade I talked with an acquaintance who complained to me about delivering a turkey dinner last week to people she didn't feel were "worthy enough" to receive it. It didn't give her the warm, fuzzy feeling she was after.

Many years ago my Real Husband was the executive director of an urban ministry in Fort Lauderdale. There were all kinds of programs to get involved with: literacy, building projects, systemic community change, hunger and lots more.

We were always scrambling for volunteers.

Except at holiday time. This time of year people are so loving and generous. Back then we had a group of several hundred business men and women who delivered turkey dinners and gifts to needy families.

We always had loads of food donated so it was a fun experience. Except there were always a few (thankfully, very few) delivery people who were disappointed. The receiving families just didn't look needy enough to them. Sometimes they lived in pretty nice houses. Sometimes the kids had - not only a tree - but presents under the tree!

We were always nice to these business people. But we usually invited them to come back in January and they would see the kind of poverty they were after. Most everybody gets fed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But there are 363 other days of the year.


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