The Ugly Duckling
Guest Writer: Steve Petcoff
“You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:8.
In Memory of Florine Saia Petkoff Walters 1911-2009
In my early childhood days, my mother used to read children stories to me. My favorite story was about the Ugly Duckling. (Hans Christian Andersen, 1843).
This was a tale about a little duckling that looked different from the rest of his friends and family. No one wanted to have anything to do with him. I remember crying and crying because no one loved him.
The other day I pulled up to a Stop sign and there he was standing beside my car window. His clothes were dirty and oil soaked. I remember looking at his emaciated body, his sunken eyes and his crooked yellow stained teeth. I quickly handed him a few dollars and then stepped on the gas to get away. I really felt badly for him and wondered what more I should have done.
There are so many street corners like this all over town. I wondered if I had really done him any good by giving him money. He may just use it to buy drugs, alcohol or cigarettes and not food. I’ve been told by others not to give these people anything. Some have told me to take the person to a restaurant and feed them. I really don’t know if I would have the wherewithal or courage to do such a thing. It creates such a dilemma for me because my heart breaks for these kinds of people.
I see myself so blessed and so fortunate to have so much. I give to charities that will help people in need and I pray a lot for them. But still, it does not seem like enough. What’s the solution? How do I get rid of my guilt?
I think I have to reflect on my childhood days when my mother was reading the Ugly Duckling story to me. As I cried, she would comfort me and teach me about compassion and love. She showed a lot of empathy for others. Maybe just looking for the face of Christ in others will go a lot further than just a few dollars.
https://g.co/kgs/8eM5A5
Open site, or copy and paste, then and scroll down to VIDEOS and click on “Ugly Duckling (1939)–(Animation, Short, Comedy)–video (Aug. 23, 2019 - Uploaded by Film Gorillas).” The video time is 8:38.
Steve Petcoff
