‘Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.’ Proverbs 22:2

Meet Steven, he spends his day digging through other people’s trash, looking for empty plastic bottles. He walks on the street dragging his trolley behind him, bulging with these bottles. We don’t give a second thought when we throw away bottles. Yet to him, they are his livelihood.

Steven is paid R1 for 1 kg of plastic bottles. R1!! I don’t even know how many bottles that is. It must be a lot. It must take him all day to collect that many bottles. I can’t imagine spending all day, every day doing this in order to survive. Digging in stranger’s black plastic bags to find just a glimpse of a plastic milk bottle or coke bottle.

What do we do when we see people, like Steven, coming towards our rubbish or getting in OUR way, with their huge trolley’s, on our way to work. We get irritated. We get angry. We shout at them. Yet, they are simply trying to survive, trying to make a living without turning to crime or begging at the robot.

And so, what can we do for people like Steven? How can we help? Do we want to help?

We need to have compassion for the plight of the Steven’s of the world, regardless of the reason why they ended up there. We need to look outside of ourselves and see the helplessness. To stop looking away because it feels uncomfortable or because we feel bad; but to see their daily struggle. So let’s not hoot at them. Let’s not get frustrated when they delay us. Perhaps find out their name, where they live, what are they needing, what are some of their struggles at the moment. Even a simple smile goes a long way for people like Steven.

We are so blessed. If we have had a meal today, and have more than one pair of clothes, and a warm bed; we are blessed. If we don’t have to collect empty plastic bottles in order to feed our families we are truly blessed. Let’s remember Steven and people like him when we throw out our bottles.

‘Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3’

‘Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.’ Psalm 19:17

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