In my job I have to decide between help and enable, every day. I'll give you a couple examples from today:
I get a call from one of our Community Assistance volunteers (From here on we will refer to it as C.A. and him as Michael) OK, Community Assistance is where we give out groceries and try to connect people with the right agencies to help with their problems. Anyway I get a call saying that there is a woman who needs food because her boyfriend has just been arrested and she doesn't know what she is going to do. He asked If I could give her food and talk to her. I told him we give food on Monday and Thursday. But I would be happy to talk to her. He said she really needs food. Look, I have no intention of letting someone go hungry. But this woman comes to our C.A. and she knows the rules and she was here yesterday. If someone comes for the first time I will of course give them a little food. Anyway she came by smelling of alcohol and cigarettes. She said Michael said I would give her food. I told her that I could only give food on Mondays and Thursdays. She said OK and walked off. If she got food from us yesterday, can afford cigarettes and beer and I give her food today, that would be enabling her. Right?
Earlier a guy came to talk. He said he has a couple job interviews and needed a haircut. He was hungry but didn't ask for food. He is unemployed but didn't ask for money. He was out of gas but didn't ask for a gas voucher. He had to move from his room because he couldn't pay rent but didn't ask for a motel voucher. I asked him if he needed a shirt and pants for his interviews. And he said no. He was able to do laundry at his friends house. He asked me to tell him a place to get a haircut. That's all he wanted. nothing more. By the way Great Clips in Cypress has $4.99 haircuts. I gave him $10 and told him to put the extra towards gas. I think I helped him. Right?
OK, This woman came by and said she needed help with rent. She is only working part time. She has two teenage boys who fight all the time and a ten month old daughter. I couldn't pay $40.25 for a night. She was going to have to sleep in her car for the night, at least one night. If she doesn't find a place to stay for the weekend she'll be in her car with her 3 kids.
I don't know about you, but for me, telling the first woman no wasn't hard. Neither was giving someone $10 for a haircut. Sometimes I help, I usually try not to enable and sometimes I cry.
Today I did all three.
If you are in Buena Park tonight stop by. I could use a hug. Trust me that would be "help."
Robert
Happy 25th!
On July 3, 2010 Robert and I had been married for 25 years, a silver wedding anniversary, a quarter of a century, 2 and a half decades, more than half of my life on this earth. If I were to look back 25 years ago, would I imagine we would be where we are today, no. Do I wish things were different, sometimes? Would I trade any of the hard, difficult times we have been through, never (well maybe that one year in Modesto)
The truth is, we have been through a lot, more than some, not as much as most. We are in the midst of a tempest now, and there are many more in store for us in the future. But I know that the more severe the storm, the more trying and difficult the circumstances, it means something big is at the other end awaiting us. God has a plan for us as promised, Jeremiah 29:11.
Our family vacation was great! The 5 of us piled into our car and headed to Las Vegas. We had an amazing condo complete with 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living room and a master suite with a king size bed and huge whirlpool tub. (Courtesy of Robert’s parents) We swam, cooked meals, soaked in the tub, watched movies and just laughed and relaxed. In between we saw some incredible hotels/casinos (the architecture and decorating is astounding). We participated in a time share presentation where we were staying and received a meal voucher for Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill restaurant – we all were pretty excited. We drove out to Red Rock Canyon State Park and drove the 13 mile scenic route. We saw The Phantom at the Venetian (I believe my favorite hotel)and for our anniversary; we enjoyed an excellent dinner at the Bellagio-which has a fabulous water show to some of my favorite Frank Sinatra tunes! God gave us a week to get away from everything and spend quality time with each other, something we desperately needed. In those moments, we are again reminded of what is truly important, our Lord and Savior dying on the cross so we can live. Thank you for your prayers!
Now, it is back to reality, but that's OK. We are refreshed and ready! Back to business, God's business.
Enjoy the pictures to the right!
Liz
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