What Did You Learn Today?

When Chet got home from work one day, he asked Colby what he learned that day. Colby says, "You don't stand on the sidewalk holding a sign, you go out and work for money!" Needless to say, Chet and I laughed pretty hard.

We were at Walmart earlier that day and Colby saw a beggar on the sidewalk. He was very confused. He asked me why that guy was standing there with a sign and wanted to know what the sign said. I told him that he was asking for free money without doing anything but asking for it. I asked him if he thought that was the best way to spend his time? He was still a little confused so I told him that if he wanted to have things in life, he had to work for them and not just ask for handouts. He needed to work and not just hope that others would give him everything. He understood that. And I thought that was the end of it. Obviously it sank in pretty well with him.

(I know that we are supposed to give to those in need, but I have a REALLY hard time with beggars. As I talked to my friends about this, they said that they will always give them leftovers if they have any from eating out. Most people won't take them. They get things like, "I'm a diabetic." or "I have a gluten intolerance." I call bullcrap!!! If others want to give, GREAT! But as for me, I like giving a generous donation to fast offerings instead. And do Secret Santa. And shovel driveways. And other kinds of service. I do not agree with standing on the corner begging. I read an article once that said the average beggar will make $400K a year if done full time. I'd rather my boys know that working hard is how to do it!!! And then they can help others!)