Helping the Needy

Today I had an interesting experience. I was out shopping (yay for being off-track!) and had stopped at Kneaders and bought one of their delicious chocolate chunk cookies...they might possibly have just become my new favorite dessert :). I pulled into a shopping center parking lot and was finishing my cookie before I went inside. I was almost done when a middle aged guy with red bloodshot eyes approached my car and held out his hand as if he were asking for money. I'm not sure why, but this completely shook me up. I shook my head and quickly locked the doors. He must have realized he had alarmed me because he immediately backed off. I felt really shaky after this and decided not to go into the store after all. But as I was driving away, I couldn't help but feel bad. What if this man really needed my help? I had cash. I could have helped him. What was I so afraid of? I couldn't shake these thoughts. I guess that's why I'm writing about it. I can't help but wonder about him. My tendency is to be suspicious of people begging for money. I'm not saying that's right, but it's how I usually feel. I'll gladly help someone if I know they genuinely need it, but then again, who am I to decide who is actually needy and who's doing a con job? I guess the only solution is to do as the Savior said and “remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted” [D&C 52:40]. Hopefully next time I'll remember this :).