"Here Take Mine"

Philosophical question: If people are too "dumb" to come in out of the "rain", must I give them "MY" umbrella ?

      I grew up being taught to always consider others before myself, I don't know if it was because my parents thought it was the "christian" thing to do or if it was just "natural" for them. My Mom was a wonderful and kind person, I seldom heard her speak "ill" of anyone, but it was really my Dad who set the example for this Philosophy in our house.

     As a teen, I sometimes saw his kindness for a weakness, he had friends and business associates who would suggest he take a harder line in business dealings etc. He would NEVER do anything which would bring harm to another or cause them a problem. I saw him put himself at a disadvantage more that once.

    It carried over to every aspect of his life. He was a big hunter, Deer, Bear, Pheasant, Turkey, Quail, Rabbits. Many times we would hunt with others and he would say "Son, you and I are going to go up this way and let them go there, they will have a better chance of finding something there and we might even flush something their way." I would often get angry when the day ended with others havering had a successful hunt and he and I with little or nothing. I was particularity disappointed when, the "others" often did not even offer to share, his response, "Son, we have been very successful in the past, they killed it and "WE" had fun watching them enjoy themselves." 

     My Dad worked a full time job, we owned a small restaurant which my mom operated, with my help after school and summers. We sometimes had others but it was mostly family. My Dad and a friend built and remodeled homes on the weekends as well. I have seen him let someone else take a remodel  job because he know they had no other source of income for their family.

    Through my life I have owned several businesses and tried to operate each as ethically as I could. Sometimes I would try the "no more Mr. Nice Guy" approach to life but somehow what was instilled in me as a child could not be suppressed. This has carried over to my personal dealings as well. I find myself, as we all do, frustrated with people who are deliberately helpless, unmotivated, lazy and have a habitual "Entitlement" mentality.

     I believe in and "preach" tough love,but, it is no easier for me than anyone else to apply it however. I have "family" who are victims of their own stupidity, I have tried to "educate" them in the event their problem was ignorance rather than stupidity, but alas, not so. 

If people are too "dumb" to come in out of the "rain", must I give them "MY" umbrella ?

 NO but I will Loan them one.