Hi everyone I came across this poem the other day. It challenged the way I view what being poor is so I thought I would share it with you and let you come to your own conclusions.
BEING POOR
Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.
Being poor is having to live with choices you didn’t know you made when you were 14 years old.
Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends’ houses but never has friends over to yours.
Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.
Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house.
Being poor is hoping your kids don’t have a growth spurt.
Being poor is thinking $14.75 an hour is a really good deal.
Being poor is relying on people who don’t give a damn about you.
Being poor is hoping you’ll be invited for dinner.
Being poor is your kid’s teacher assuming you don’t have any books in your home?
Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.
Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.
Being poor is knowing you’re being judged.
Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.
By John Scalz
Confronted I turned to the scriptures. There were many scriptures in regards to being poor but this one scripture did give me some solace. In Deuteronomy 15:11 it says:
For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
This led me to pause for a moment and I asked “God what have I done this week to help those who are poor and in need”?
Matua Mark
