SHTF: Starving Children

Here is the standard survivalist line: Provide for me, my family, my select friends who were invited to join us only. The list is closed after that.

Here is the un-standard problem. The next door neighbor comes over three weeks after the event and begs for anything to eat. You know the family; your kids and theirs played together before everything went in the handbasket.

What would you do?

For me, that means "Sure, come on in and let's get them fed". Period.

I won't let a child I know go hungry no more than I would want one of my children to go hungry. What's more is you, me and everyone else does better when we work together within our own community in this case, with our neighbors.

They will be one more set of eyes to watch my back and can do it because I helped feed them.

Now, here are some scenarios where I am not helping anyone.

- Stranger shows up at front door and says "Hey, yall got some food?" or something like that. Sorry, I don't know you and by the way, we are starving in here too. Nope, no food here.

- Dad (or mom) shows up with kids and proceeds to help himself before the children have been served and have eaten their fill. This Dad piles his plate and scarfs it down. Sorry, I take the plate (with gun in hand) and Dad waits outside for kids to get be done.

- Kids balk at eating, complain about the food and demand something different. After pausing to notice Mom's face turning whiter then death, I take the food up and show the little tikes the front door. Mom can teach manners at that point.

Which brings up a real scenario which will happen when you help the neighbors out.

My family and I have had more than a few families over for dinner. My wife cooks from scratch, serves healthy food and there is never a shortage of fresh vegetables at any meal.

Family number one comes over. Little boy says the food my wife places before him is yucky. His mother makes excuses and let's him stuff himself on bread and dessert. Little girl proceeds to drown her food in a half a bottle of ranch dressing and dumps a bowl of parmesian cheese on the whole mess. Than says she is full. Dad comments on how cute she is and let's her play on the floor while he eats three helpings of everything including the last of the pasta and meat without noticing if anyone else has eaten.

Family number two comes over. Children are home schooled by mom, incidentally and have manners which are strangers among today's coddled children. Both Little Girl and Little Boy gorge themselves on my wife's fresh cucumber salad and have two servings each of her homemade soup. Both sit at table while parents are still eating and despite their fondness for the bread my wife made, leave the last piece for my son (who is chastised to give to one of his guests).

Post SHTF you will see both kinds in your home once the stores are empty. Exhibit your Christian kindness, but be prepared to remind people of manners and behavior while eating your hard saved preps.

Ho ho ho. Happy Holidays.