Offered or asked? They are different actions entirely. I was taught to not ask for charity, but to accept it gracefully if offered. With that I find myself conflicted when I see these requests for go fund me and other requests for assistance.

I can empathize with those folks doing so, but it still grates. Personally, I just couldn’t’ bring myself to do that. Call it pride, stubbornness, or whatever you like, I call it begging. Whenever it is an outright plea for money, it is begging.

Now if there is an organization or individual that is offering help, I have no problem with anyone applying to receive it. As I mentioned, when offered it is alright to accept. You shouldn’t just take it because it is offered though, it’s a moral judgement. What you might call the honor system.

Recently I have read about those folks that have a roadside stand selling their products on the honor system. Unfortunately, what I have read about are those that were robbed, cheated and taken advantage of. There was no honor! Well, it is an old adage, there is no honor among thieves.

I often see people requesting you donate money to a charity instead of giving them a gift. That also bugs me, what makes you think I was going to give you a gift in the first place? It just doesn’t settle well with me. It’s an expectation of charity.

Expectation creates dependency. That is the lesson I was taught as a child. When you begin to expect charity, you will find yourself dependent upon that charity. It’s a big problem, and for some it becomes a lifestyle. The word systemic may apply.

How many times do you hear this: get what you deserve. That is the catchphrase from a good portion of the law firms today. If you are not being given what you want, sue them, and get what you deserve! You deserve more! Doesn’t matter how much you are offered; you deserve more is the underlining message.

Then I hear all those insisting the wealthy should share their money. The wealthy folks have too much money! They should give me their money so I can be wealthy too! It’s only fair. I don’t have too much money; it’s always the other guy. Like what happens at work when something goes wrong, it was the other guy.

I guess it is just the change in social attitudes. Growing up we were taught to not ask for charity. In church it was called an offering. I didn’t hear about “tithing” until later on in life. Tithing is a requirement. I don’t agree with that at all. But that’s another whole topic.

Today there is an expectation of charity. It’s quite the common attitude for folks to have and to justify. I deserve; is the proof of that. That is the heart of expectation. I was taught to be grateful for whatever was offered. I was also taught expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed.