A few days ago my husband and I hit the road for the day. He was making cold calls for prospective clients. I enjoyed the scenery. I love the harvest season!
As the drive progressed I noticed more and more abandoned buildings and houses.
It is apparent that people and businesses simply pulled up the stakes. Left. Moved on to, hopefully, a better place in their lives.
For sale signs everywhere. Older signs had been replaced with newer ones.
I am not depressed over what I saw. I am just hopeful for the people involved.
I checked a few minutes ago on our county unemployment rate. I stopped watching the figures when they neared 13%. The latest report states 15.3%. Wow.
A friend approached me a month ago, asking if I could use some help. Her normal hours are being cut drastically. She works in a retail location. I explained that I run my company myself. I can use some help. Yes, I can! Can I afford to pay anyone right now? No. I wish I could. If I could, I would definitely hire her first. And if I could, I would hire the poor folks that need the help in the worst sort of way. I cannot. Bet your bottom dollar, I feel like being generous. I work hard here. I keep my nose to the grindstone. But looks can be deceiving, this is tough for all of us! As I told my husband yesterday, “It is a blessing that one of us is working!”
All I can do is pray for you.
Obviously I do not get out of the area often. I go ten miles in either direction, that’s about it. Such a site to see, and I am glad I saw it. Not glad for what is happening, glad that I know.
I hope help and change comes soon. There is hope.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. —Jeremiah 29:11
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I love you Mary. Your eyes see so much more than mine, but I think our hearts are about equal. I also continue to give praise for the abundance and blessings in my life. We are all just one abandoned building away from disaster. So, I will keep being grateful and keep praying for those in need.
You’re the bee’s knees, lady!
I know, I have watched it all around me. Friends and family struggling. Including myself, with a lay-off in January.
But there is hope. God only wants the best for us. Love that verse, thanks for sharing it. I hope it gives someone that is struggling the hope they need!
It is kindof a scary situation our country is in.
We will just have to wait to find out what comes of it all.
The summer before last, my mother, daughter, and I took our annual girl trip across FL. We hit small towns and shop. We were stunned at the # of biz’s that went under in all of the little downtown areas, and the # of people losing their homes. It was utterly depressing to see. That was 2 years ago, and our unemployment is up even more. Whole families are begging on our street corners, where before you would only see a single person and not often. I hope we can all continue hanging on because the economy is definitely very bad. I’m lucky. My husband still has his job, but I really feel so bad that I cannot help others. We just don’t have any extra money right now. It’s a sad state of affairs right now.
God does not depend on this economy. He has His own! Isn’t that wonderful to know? If we know Him, we participate in His economy, not the world’s. Wow! Courage!
It is so easy to forget how close we all are to homelessness and hopelessness, but God does provide…look at Job, yes, a depressing story in the beginning and middle, but in the end …the proclamation of God’s control in all things.
I can never fathom why He allows such awful things, or why He gives such mercies to an ungrateful humanity, but He does!
Alix, I didn’t see what I saw as I enjoyed the ride. I saw it later as I reflected on the day. Amazing. I am not concerned about myself as much as I am those poor people that abandoned ship.
Thanks, Becky. I love what you said, “God wants only the best for us.” And He wants us to give it all to him…no frets. I can rejoice in that. We are rich!
Stacey, it can be scarey. Our homes are our comfort zone, our castle, even when meager. Everyone needs a home.
I feel I am in that spot, Erica. I want to help, however, monetarily I cannot. So, I offer what I can spiritually, in caring.
Debbie, you brought this conversation back down to ground zero! He does have His own agenda, and it isn’t based on our economy.
Hello, Kathy. It is amazing, and also easy to forget. The frustration does not come from God, though. That, in itself, keeps us planted firmly in our knowledge. He does take care of us. We must keep our minds and hearts open.