Posted on 09/23/2004 8:04:47 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Hagar (not her real name) is a divorced mother of two trying to remain faithful to God and work to support her children. Hagar recently hired a young lady, L., from church to provide childcare (at Hagar's apartment) while she went to work during the day. She came home one day and looked in the refrigerator and the boxes and packages of food appeared to be in good supply. She looked in the freezer to make sure her list was complete and the ice cream container looked fine as did some other packages of food.
To her chagrin H. quickly discovered that all of the boxes/packages of food were EMPTY. Seems L. had invited her mother and her whole family to come over and eat. When they finished, they carefully placed the food boxes/packages back in the fridge/freezer to appear as if they still contained food. H. found this out when she returned from work early one day without notification and found the whole crew sitting down to finish off her food supplies. She asked them to please remember to put the empty boxes/packages in the trash. Ironically, she didn't fire the young lady.
The same young woman, L., has now ended up pregnant out of wedlock. More could be said, but it just belabors the point. A large segment of U.S. society has taken on a mentality of "someone owes me something". They feel it is their entitlement to not only finish off what H. needed for her children, but to invite family to come over and finish the job. This is NOT fiction, it actually just happened. When it is members of one's own church and they are heartless enough to leave this woman who is in an already difficult situation with even more financial stress, one begins to wonder where we are headed.
One more point. I am convinced a huge amount of this psychopathic behavior is occurring in this nation and so few want to talk about it. All of you are going to find some day, when you go back and read what I've posted on this forum, that everything I wrote actually did happen. I am beyond belief at some of the things I am beginning to see. God help us all and have mercy on our souls.
All that is yours is mine; and all mine is yours.
These are my gifts to you, freely given, to use as I have taught you. Go forth and use them according to my will and to further my word in the world.
That attitude is fine, if that was the agreement up front. However, the tone of the story suggests that there was no such up front agreement. And the fact that both parties involved were (supposedly) Christians does not entitle one to take advantage of the other.
Your line "sounds" biblical, but I don't believe that it actually exists anywhere in the Bible. If it does, you'll have to supply chapter and verse. Otherwise, all you're doing is justifying theft.
Pretty hard to endure, but we do. Just can't believe people can grow up thinking like that. Must have graduate with a Ph D in Democrat Deceit & Denial
I believe a lot of people are into the above. It is all I can do to keep from screaming I am so angry.
And all had all things in common? When they've produced NOTHING, how can they help anyone else? All they can do is help themselves to yours. I forgive you for your thoughtless comment.
Chapter and verse please?
Thanks for your understanding. This is the tip of the iceberg of what could be reported. It is just shocking.
I submitted a short essay to Claire which she put on her website.
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2110/RA_980717.html
If you're interested in the best analysis of this sort of behaviour, I suggest you get a copy of "Life at the Bottom- the worldview that makes the underclass" by Theodore Dalrymple. Alternatively, do a google search for this author and start reading anything he's written. Although he writes about this form of social pathology in England, it is the same story here as well. This will never change, and will only worsen, as long as we accept, embrace, and reward such behaviour.
"Sic Transit Glorea Munde"
And sad. We've now raised at least two generations of people who think this way, and the third is up and coming. No sense of personal responsibility, no ambition, no shame. Just looking for the next handout, or failing that, the next thing that they can lay hands on.
And it's our own fault, for letting our government continue to provide handouts to freeloaders. If the government is going to pay them, they should at least get some work out of them, instead of making them completely dependent.
And gov't programs continue to further that "entitlement" mentality, too. My parents are senior citizens who worked hard their whole lives (with no one's help) to get ahead. They live in a modest house, finally paid off, and they were ready to settle back and enjoy their golden years. But HUD moved in a "family" next door who harrass and threaten them and vandalize their property (as well as terrorize the other neighbors, too).
I found out a HUD-funded program is paying part of this family's mortgage. So, my parents, as taxpayers, are helping to fund this family's mortgage, and the worst part is there's no way to evict them. A recent newspaper article lauded the HUD program for its "success" in "helping" families. Meanwhile, folks like mine are being pushed out of their homes.
It's the "entitlement crowd" who know how to play the system VS. the hardworking folks who believe in pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps, and the entitlement crowd is winning.
The other part - "These are my gifts to you, freely given, to use as I have taught you. Go forth and use them according to my will and to further my word in the world."
I'm not sure about.
This talks about the Spritual gifts, not earthly possesions like food. That is the key difference, wouldn't you agree?
“Those who do not work should not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
And a question to ponder: do you feel that L., above, is living up to this verse: Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Or does her eating her neighbor's food without being invited count as "work"?
Your story does not ring true! It reads like something that Jason what's-his-face at the NYT would write to accomodate his white bosses perception of black culture. I do not believe your story is true, it is fiction.
Could you be more specific about what doesn't ring true? I have no trouble believing that something like this could happen, so perhaps you could enlighten us?
Rather than give Ms. Mom what she needs, i.e. some guidance, they rush to show their "love" which is not love, but merely indulgence and self-congratulation.
But let me tell you--they aren't born that way. They are created and the people to point the fingers at are the parents.
Does the parent give the child every little thing their heart desires--especially with no effort on their part? Does the parent deny them any responsibility and protect them from all the consequences of failure?
Certainly, the children are to blame for their individual actions, but overprotective, indulgent parents have some blame for raising children without a clue.
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