To give or not to give? If this happens to you? what would you do?
By aeadams
@aeadams (126)
Philippines
December 19, 2008 11:52am CST
I've been itching to write here in my Lot about an incident happened few days ago at work. It's just now that i had the chance to do so. I am an owner and a receptionist of a fitness gym. It was afternoon About 2 days ago, a woman about 40 to 50s of age entered the gym and started to preach about God. She uttered "Good afternoon everyone!" The customers startled. "We are so eager to make our body beautiful, why don't we make our soul beautiful too in the eyes of God." Then she gave an envelope to me...A solicitation envelope. My husband, who doesn't believe in God's power approached me. The woman asked him if he has money to give for "God". My husband told her, "sorry I don't believe in God." Then the woman rebutted "Who do you believe then? The devil? Why don't you believe in God? He gave you not only one, but two balls he even gave you extra thing in between to make you happy you still don't believe there's God?" My husband who is very hot tempered said, "Please don't ruin my day!" Then my husband whispered to me "Tell this woman to go out or I'll kick her out of here." I was shocked and felt offended by what the woman said to my husband. i returned the envelope and when I handed it to her she opened it and looked inside if i put anything in it. When she saw nothing, she started cursing. She said you will all die and when you do the worms that will eat you are black worms with hair?!...
I am a Christian. I believe in God and It's very tough challenge for me that my husband doesn't believe in God that incident is very disappointing for me because that woman is using God's name to ask money and its obvious that they are only doing it because christmas is approaching. The number of beggars increases and they would even use the name of God to ask money wile we don't really know if it will be sincerely used for God's purpose..So It was a lesson for me from now on I will not give money to beggars.
2 people like this
15 responses
@CRSunrise (2981)
• United States
20 Dec 08
That woman is not a true Christian. A true Christian would have been humble in their request for donation. They never would have been so crude to your husband, nor would they have cursed you out when they weren't given anything. At least, that's my opinion. They'd be greatful to receive what they could. They would know that not everyone could give something, especially nowadays.
@liisafiat (659)
• Latvia
19 Dec 08
Wow, it doesn`t look that the lady is true believer in God. And she spoke about `the balls` of Your husband: I think You had to kick her`s aas out of that gym hall after she first spoke those words out! I don`t understand what was she expecting to receive from You after such spectacle!
People, especially beggars use Christmas time to DEMAND some attention and help from others. But Christmas is not about DEMANDING help or something. Good people or blessed people will find how to help those who deserve it: and it won`t always be money that they will give to others. Sometimes it is a moral help for a person who is in a depression. Sometimes it can be a help in a form of `used` stuff: clothes for their growing children, books that don`t change theories so often (History or Mathematics, for example), etc.
Forget this accident as soon as possible. It looks like it is not worthy to think or to feel offended by the curse. Keep on living, and whatever bad or good happens in Your life: than know it is a result of Your actions and not a `will` of others to make You happier or unhappier.
1 person likes this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
19 Dec 08
I would never let the actions of one person decide how I would or would not respond to others. Sometimes, I think things like this happen because we need a test.
As a business owner, though, you need to have a sign that says "no soliciting" on the door and make sure it applies to everyone - business or non-profit. If some approaches you like that again, I would suggest that he/she make an appoitment to talk with you in private.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
19 Dec 08
That woman was a nut and probably a con artist as well. I'm sorry that she upset your husband, too. Do not let this woman rob you of your charity. There are needy people who do not bother or otherwise upset others and those are the ones you should remember at this time of year. Not every person in need is the same.
@j47lee (740)
• Canada
19 Dec 08
That is totally crazy...
...... that woman has no right to come into a business and then say all that to ur husband..... ur clients mite be driven away for one thing... hopefully she doesnt come back... maybe u should tell her that wateva she wants to do should be done outside and that she is not welcome here.. and unlesss u have a membership in the gym... u cant loiter around here.. and maybe put up a sign that says gym members and their guests allowed only...
...... that woman has no right to come into a business and then say all that to ur husband..... ur clients mite be driven away for one thing... hopefully she doesnt come back... maybe u should tell her that wateva she wants to do should be done outside and that she is not welcome here.. and unlesss u have a membership in the gym... u cant loiter around here.. and maybe put up a sign that says gym members and their guests allowed only... 1 person likes this
@chaomi (56)
• Philippines
20 Dec 08
Wow! I'm a Roman Catholic and I believe in God. That woman was very RUDE for doing that and she was even using God's name...I'm sorry. I'm just speechless...I think it's better that you don't give any charity to those kind of people if I were you. I'll be extremely pissed off if that woman said that to me but at the same time, I'll feel sorry for her. Maybe she's just that desperate to have some cash...even so, she was indeed VERY RUDE!
1 person likes this
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
20 Dec 08
Wow; first I highly doubt this woman was a true Christan of any sort. Sounds like she cooked up a scam to solicit money and if she could get people to give it she would have extra holiday cash. I don't know of any church who would condone such behavior. I suspect she was acting on her own behalf and and it had nothing to do with Christianity or God other than her God of filthy lucre money. Sorry your husband had to see the worst sort of example and one that is not at all how a true Christian would or should act. Do not dispair of your husband not ever believing I have seen some real miracles happen and not over night. I know of other women three in fact who's husbands were adamant unbelievers and now all go to church it took one womans husband 22 years but something happened and now he is a very true Christian person. The power of prayer goes a long ways. This time of year brings out some very strange people.
@rizzu87 (860)
• Malaysia
20 Dec 08
Well nowadays beggers have made begging a business rather than their need. And for that they say anything what ever they like and dont think about it. I have soo many beggers in my country and all of them beg in the name of GOD. I heard that during the month of ramadan, when the muslims from all over the world go to holy mosque in saudi arabia. There people beg so much in the name of god. This is all wrong. One man collected $11000 by begging in 12 days. And that person was arrested. Like this way the person made fool out soo many thousands of poeple in the name of GOD. I hope they all understand the importance of GOD and stop doing all this fraud.
@AlbertMARKET (40)
• United States
19 Dec 08
I think it is cruel to use your beliefs into being bribed to donate to someone who doesn't represent God as they say. They should never use the word God in associated with begging, it isn't logical that giving money to this person is a help to God.
1 person likes this
@eternalgrief (12)
• United States
20 Dec 08
You did the right thing by refusing to give her money. She was probably a scam artist trying to take advantage of someone. Call the police the next time you see her coming in, and don't feel bad. If you do want to help local charities that you know are for real, you can do so in other ways. You can also start a community wide charity, if you don't have one in your area. I have seen many online and physical businesses who have donation collections set up to help people out all year around. Some of them just do collection for particular areas, like buying food for the needy, buying toys for kids, giving needy families help to make it and have Christmas, all sorts of things. Donation is up to the individual, and she was out of line.
@rtslvtwy (1088)
• Malaysia
20 Dec 08
Based on the incident that you mentioned, I will not give money to that lady even if she is using God's name or anything like that.
I would still give to those who are in need. If they are beggers who are disabled or really poor family with no proper job, i do not mind helping them if they are genuine. I would fdefinately not give to anyone who is fully functioning both mentally and physically, and come asking for money.
@vivek_sappu (13)
• India
20 Dec 08
Dear Friend,
You know that God is in every human, animal,plants and also in insects. As you explaind about you Gym accident which was happend on 2 days ago. After this accident your huband will understud about the exist of God, and other way you are saying about offering on chrismas day so you should be keep up.
@SAdave1 (103)
• South Africa
20 Dec 08
I am also a Christian and I agree that this woman was just using God by trying to make everyone feel guilty and in doing so getting money from them.
I think it is the same as using the Lord's name in vain. The Bible tells us that our body is a temple, so going to the gym is in line with what the Bible teaches us, as long as the gym does not take the place of God in our lives.
I also struggle with who to give to and who not to, but I prefer to give to organisations like churches or orphanages. There is a better chance that the money and goods you give in this way will be wisely used.
