Are we not all beggars?

I have had a lot of thoughts lately and I feel like many of them are related to this scripture that I gave a talk on back when I spoke with the High Council right after my mission.

Hopefully I can bring this around to make sense, but the whole attitude of entitlement that to many Americans seem to have is really bothering me.  The attitude of deserving something or trying to get something for nothing is what is destroying America.  Nobody deserves money from the government or the church or from anyone else.  People shouldn't be counting on all the freebies they can get. It is our number one responsibility as adults to be financially responsible for our own well being and having the maturity to make those good decisions.  That is what being an adult means.  It's not cause you got married and could have a baby if you wanted or that you moved out while your parents are still paying for your stuff.  Parents are there to prepare children for life as an adult and let them be adults when that time comes.

"It's not what you do for your children,

but what you have taught them to do for themselves

that will make them successful human beings."

-Ann Landers

Having said all that I am aware that there are sincerely disabled people that I appreciate welfare and social security being there for.  For the last 3 years I have been a case manager at a law office to help people who need it to receive their social security benefits so I do have an enormous amount of SYMPATHY for those who really do need help.  At the same time I do not ever agree with the church paying someone's cable bill because they don't want to sacrifice any part of their standard of living while going through hard times. You make sacrifices and do what you can to make it through as much as you can on your own.

At the same time I would NEVER let anyone believe that I am where I am at because of my own self. Yes I have worked hard and made some sacrifices in my life, but I also have immense gratitude for those who have so generously helped me to get ahead in life and help me be successful.  I don't know where I would be right now without my parents or my Grandpa and Grandma Forsyth.  First of all, my Grandpa is one of the greatest and most generous, hard working men I know.  He has helped me with college tuition, my mission, my car (in numerous ways), and has given all the love and encouragement in the world.  He is the best example of Christlike service and I will forever be grateful for his influence in my life.
Then there is my DAD, who is his fathers son in every way!  My dad has also helped me just as much with cars and my mission and being an example of service.  Sometimes to much in my opinion! I just want people to appreciate him as much as he deserves because not only does he serve his own family, but also the entire ward.  If anyone needs body work done, or a paint job, or their car is making a weird noise they bring it to my dad.  If they need to borrow a truck or a suburban they come to my dad, if someone wants to borrow a boat to go play they ask my dad, and if they need someone from the bishopric to go on high adventure, scout camp, young women's camp, youth conference, or to get the ward activities set up and taken down my dad is there- regardless of how much vacation time he has from work or not.  Does he get to sleep in till ten or go golfing sometimes? Nope!  Maybe he should say no to people sometimes, especially to the entitled ones that just expect him to always want to be working since the time he woke up at 3a.m. EVERY day and never say thank you or perhaps give the car back with no gas in it, but he won't. Why should he always be the one doing all the work when everyone else is playing?  Well, he has always been willing to work so now he is just expected to work. Watching so many people come to him for favors and help amazes me though cause it causes me to feel guilt if I ever need to ask my own dad for some help.  He should be able to have more time not doing things for everyone else.  Someday I sure hope he does cause man does he deserve some big time service!

So to all of you that think you are entitled to something or are always looking for a way to get out of paying for things:
Don't order the most expensive thing on the menu or the specialty drinks when someone is paying for your meal.
If someone loans you money, don't just hope they will forget.  Pay them back.
When someone takes their time to help you be darn GRATEFUL for it.
ALWAYS say Thank you.
Get a real, full time job (preferably lasting longer than a few months) and understand what it means to have to work to make your own money and how far that money really doesn't go.
If you lose your job go find another one, regardless of if you like it, until you can find a better one.  Chances are you won't like the jobs you have while getting through school, do them anyway.
Help yourself when you are able to, if you can't then family, the church, or maybe even the government is there, but not to be taken advantage of just because you want to be lazy or irresponsible or think you deserve it.
Especially be grateful to GOD.  Without him we are literally nothing, He gave us our life.  Every blessing we have comes from Him.  The 10% tithing he asks from us was already His in the first place so it should be easy to give it right back.  The more we give the more he will just keep blessing us, probably with people in our lives that serve us like the Savior would.  Try to think about other people more than yourself.  Do something for someone that they can't do for themselves.  Pay it forward.  I have much to do in my calling to serve, but I sure am grateful for those that serve me, far more than I even deserve.
Because we are all beggars we cannot judge harshly or think we are ever better than anyone else.  If we have been given more, then more is required of us to help others.  Only the Savior knows our true intents, but nobody needs repentance more or less than anybody else on this earth because each of us sin.  We are given weakness to be made HUMBLE and remember that we are not entitled to anything.  Everything is a blessing to be grateful for.

For are we not ALL beggars?