A godparent visiting the Black Forest with her twin god-sons faced a dilemma over giving money to a beggar in Freiburg, prompting reflection on charity and the traditions of St. Martin’s Day, bistum-muenster.de reported.
The god-children, seven-year-old twins, carried pocket money during a July train excursion from the Black Forest to Freiburg. They wanted to buy treats, but noticed several people asking for money along the street and outside a drugstore, according to bistum-muenster.de.
Why the man caught the boys’ attention
One young man sitting with an empty paper cup looked particularly unwell, prompting the godmother to suspect a drug addiction or severe distress. The twins watched him closely and asked why he was sitting there, as bistum-muenster.de reported.
The godmother explained that the man likely wanted money to buy food or drink. The boys immediately urged her to give him something, leading to a discussion about fairness and why she could not give money to every person asking for help on the streets of Freiburg.
How the pocket money solved the dilemma
When the boys persisted, the godmother suggested they could share their own Freiburg pocket money with the man. That resolved the situation quickly, though the encounter left the godmother reflecting on her hesitation, according to bistum-muenster.de.
She questioned whether children can learn true mercy if adults do not model it directly. She asked herself, “Give something yourself!” as a challenge to her own instincts during the summer trip.
What St. Martin teaches about giving
Reflecting on the experience ahead of St. Martin’s Day celebrations in parishes and kindergartens, the godmother drew a parallel to the medieval saint. She noted that St. Martin likely did not pause to calculate whether he would meet other beggars before cutting his cloak in half, bistum-muenster.de reported.
Martin simply acted without overthinking future encounters. The godmother resolved to adopt that same approach in future situations, viewing it as a core part of her role as a godparent.
Questions about the Freiburg encounter
Where did the encounter take place?
The meeting happened in Freiburg during a summer day trip from the Black Forest, where the godmother was visiting her god-sons and their mother, according to bistum-muenster.de.
How much pocket money did the twins have?
The seven-year-old twins each had six euros in their wallets to spend on something nice during the excursion, bistum-muenster.de reported.
What holiday inspired the reflection?
The incident reminded the godparent of the feast of St. Martin, which is celebrated in kindergartens, schools, and parishes in November, according to bistum-muenster.de.