I have never been a rich man when it comes to money. God has blessed me with more than enough to meet all my family’s needs, but like most people I am still about a million dollars shy of being a millionaire. Still, I do try to give what I can to several charities that I know do good work in this world. One of them is Covenant House, a shelter for children who have either run away from abusive homes or been forced out onto the streets.

Recently someone asked me if I thought it was doing any good sending my few dollars to this charity every month. I thought about it for awhile and put myself in the place of a young boy or girl having been tossed out on the street by a family who no longer wanted me or on the run from terrible abuse. I saw myself cold, alone, hungry, and afraid struggling to survive on the streets. I saw myself being victim to pimps, gangs, and drug pushers. I saw myself wondering if I would even live through the night. I then saw myself seeing a number on a wall or phone booth offering me the slightest chance of hope. I saw myself dialling 1-800-999-9999 and praying to God that it wasn’t some cruel joke.