What They Hear

On Sunday, a couple of friends and I were talking about how we deal with panhandlers. We were in the children’s Sunday School class after service, and it was just a random conversation. Each of us shared our experiences, ranging from the fulfillment of helping someone in need to finding out that the individual being given money by passers- by actually had a nice vehicle parked a few streets down or was offered work and refused it.

The children were a safe distance in front of us, totally engrossed in the episode of Veggie Tales they were watching. Our conversation lasted maybe fifteen minutes, and we laughed it off and went our separate ways with our children.

Then, the next day, on our way home, a young man holding a small sign was racing across the street to catch the next wave of cars. One of my boys yelled out, “Mommy, what is wrong with him?!? What is he doing? He’s going to get hit by a car!”

I assured him the young man probably knew what he was doing and would be fine. I tried to explain that he was seeking assistance and was hoping those passing by would help him. Apparently not very happy with my response, he hissed loudly and said that was mean of him. He said, “He should know better and not be asking people for money!” I tried to explain that he was probably hungry and had no place to call home.

They were actually pretty ruthless. They mentioned how he should get a job, get off the street, and if he didn’t have any money, he could “live with his mom… go to his dad’s house… go to his grandma’s house, or live in a tent”. They tried to convince me not to give him any money like I had an older gentleman the previous week. That situation had led to several questions, such as “Why are you giving him money?”  And “Oh, you owe him money?”

They continued with “Jesus would be so mad at him, because he’s stealing.” Even when I reminded them that stealing is taking something from someone without their permission, they weren’t convinced. They stated that he was stealing, because “He’s begging people for money he doesn’t need. He probably has his own. He should say sorry to everyone, Mommy, and give them back their money.”

I was very perplexed by this and slightly embarrassed. I figured that over time, conversations between myself and others had somehow reached their ears unknowingly, or I was doing a poor job teaching them to be compassionate toward others. They are big on giving to other children “who don’t have any toys or clothes”, but for some reason, they do not understand the concept of adults being unable to care for themselves. The idea just doesn’t make any sense to them.

I took two things away from that conversation:

1.       Teach them more about how/why some don’t have and expose them a bit more

2.       Even when we think they are occupied and not listening, they very well may be taking in some of what we’re saying with their limited comprehension.