Nearly a Billion people around the globe lack adequate housing, of which over 100 million are totally homeless and make the streets, cardboard boxes, shelters, parks and footpaths their permanent residency.

Every single country on this planet has homeless people, each country has their own term for the homeless. Americans term them as bums according to urban dictionary a bum is “a person who never has their own stuff and is always borrowing from others” Humm.. so if a person has the misfortune of being unable to make an adequate living and cannot afford to have a roof over their head, we call them a bum. That’s sympathy for you!!!. Wait there are more, Hobo, Dead beat, Crack head, Derelict, Transient, Bag lady, Tramp.

Why cannot we just call them Homeless and acknowledge the fact that “Homelessness is the condition and social category of people who lack housing, because they cannot afford, or are otherwise unable to maintain, regular, safe, and adequate shelter.”

Have you ever complained about your house being too small?

Have you ever wished you had a mansion for a home?

Have thought of putting new tiles on your roof or re-plastering the walls?.

It is natural for people to think of such things, no harm I believe in living out your dreams of a perfect home if you can afford to do so.

Before we complain of our situation we should think a bit about those less fortunate than us.

Instead of having numerous slang names for the homeless we should figure out what do the poor really need. They do not need just money, we need to see them eye to eye as individuals who have the capacity to support themselves, but they only need an opportunity to help themselves.  They need a job, then need a chance to respect themselves, to have pride once again in themselves, they need hope. If we cannot give them money, we can at least give them hope.

On occasion I have seen homeless being exploited with less than minimum wage because they have no other option left to ensure their survival, this is wrong, evil and inhumane.

Let us give the poor a Hand Not a Handout.

Charity with Equal Respect.

And along the way we will find something for ourselves which no amount of money can buy us. A true heartfelt gratitude, a smile of appreciation and warmth in our heart which will stay with us all through our life.

I have realized that doing something for others gives you more joy and happiness than just doing it for yourself.

Just a thought for tonight – Mathew 6:4 “so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you” – Mathew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroys, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroy, no thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Let us start helping the homeless by building their homes back one brick at a time.

 I know we can, we just have to want to.

Would you not love to see this smile?

This is Mac signing off.

Good Night and God bless.