LIVING ON FOOD STAMPS

This can be a hot topic.  I have heard many extreme stances on this.  Some feel it is unAmerican to accept government aid.  Others think those who do receive aid are abusing the system and lazy.  General stereotypes are always dangerous because each story is different.

I have known a lady who knew her 5 year limit of aid was coming to an end so she was trying to make up a disability for her son so it could continue.  So that is abuse of the system but I have known far more stories of those who fall on hard times and needed help.

I grew up on food stamps and being on MediCal.  There was a lot of foolish choices on the part of my parents who were addicted to drugs and alcohol.  But I praise God for the help we were given.  My siblings and I should not have be punished for the mistakes of our parents.  But even after becoming clean, minimum wage was not enough to care for our family of 7.

I have learned to be careful with having strong opinions and being judgmental of others.  We don’t know all of the homeless man’s story or the single mama’s story or anyone else’s story.  It is better to err on the side of grace.  It is easy to have a strong opinion on food stamps/any government aid until you become so desperate that you reach the point of needing the help of the government and you stand in line, wait hours in a crowded room, and eating humble pie.  I speak from personal experience.  I had always been the ride to these places and helped others apply all the while thinking, “I hope everyone here knows I am just their ride and I don’t actually need help.”  And then the day came when I needed help and that was the worst humble pie I had to choke down.  No doubt I was humbled and my pride stripped away but praise God because pride is an ugly thing I do not want in my life.  I was thankful that this arrogant pride was exposed in my heart.  I don’t want it there.  Pride is always a battle for me.

This is all to preface a really cool story of God providing for someone living in poverty.   Someone recently shared with me how they felt like God was prompting their heart to tithe from their small earnings.  It does not matter how much we give but that we do joyfully give first instead of giving from what is left.  The practice of giving 10% is something that was practiced in the Bible and is still done today.  It ought to come out of a heart of thanks and not of obligation.

This person said they had not tithed in a long time.  They committed to doing it even though they knew they would be short for bills but trusted God would provide.  Days after they wrote the check and unexpected gift card came in the mail for $100 to Target.

Seeing how God totally provided really encouraged them.  They wanted to continue to be faithful and to trust God and so tithed a second time with their next paycheck.  A few days later they called to see their balance on their food stamp card (it was believed there was $10 left).  They currently receive $150 a month for their family.  The new balance was $700-  they called to see if there was an error but they replied “We increased your food stamps each month.”

Pretty cool God story.

I originally wrote this post almost 15 years ago. I was pregnant with my 3rd child and we were freaking out because there was no way we were going to be able to avoid paying the almost $10,000 it would cost to deliver him at the local hospital. So I went down to the Social Services building (uber pregnant) with my 2 small daughters plus the little girl I was babysitting and my youngest sister whom I was also babysitting. So I sat in a crowded waiting room with 4 little people in tow while trying to fill out paperwork for pregnancy aid. We were not on aid because we were doing illegal things. My husband was a pastor of a small church and I was home raising our kids. 15 years later we continue to receive MediCal because we qualify. My husband is still a pastor but he also does 4 other jobs to help our family afford to live in California. He is a substitute and baseball coach at our local high school, notary, and a realtor in a struggling market. In the mail we just received loaded debit cards to help buy groceries through the summer months. We are doing good things and being a blessing to our community. So the current budget, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that Trump is trying to pass does not feel so beautiful to my beautiful family. We are hard working people who are doing our best to live honest and helpful lives. This act would devastate my family. We cannot afford to provide medical insurance for our family of 6. My husband has 4 jobs and I work 32 hours a week as a special education aide at a local elementary school. We pray this “beautiful” bill is seen for the ugly it is and is shot down.