How to be Grateful in these Hard Times

Member

By AbigailRose
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (25 Ratings)

be Grateful in these Hard Times

Grateful? What have I do be grateful for? I can barely pay my bills, I'm getting deeper and deeper into debt, my boss doesn't appreciate me, my spouse doesn't appreciate me, and my son/daughter is determined to make me miserable.

I will never be able to afford that new (---------) I wanted, and now we have to cut back by not going out to eat.

Grateful? For What?

Many people complain, or inform others of their financial situation. While what they are saying is probably true, and would cause alarm to anyone in the same situation, there is still so much to be grateful for. This article is for those who agree with me, or for those who don't, and are just curious to find out what it is I'm talking about.

The following steps is something EVERYONE should try, and even try on the kids when they complain about not getting a new toy they want. Talk is cheap, experience is PRICELESS!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Time

Step 1

Go one full day, 24 hours, from dinner to dinner, with absolutely nothing to eat. NO afternoon or midnight snacks!! As your stomach grumbles, you can comfort yourself that you can eat after dinner. When all your friends in school are buying lunch, or all your co-workers go on lunch break, you can comfort yourself that you can eat after dinner.

When you finally reach the victorious 24 hour mark, imagine living everyday like that! While many people live in the streets and don't have money to buy food, other countries have no food to buy, even if the money was there. What kept you going all day without food? Was it not the promise that at a certain time you could eat? What about the reality to the thousands of others who don't have that promise?

So maybe we have to cut back by not eating out, but hey, we still get to eat!!
Step 2

Try to bathe yourself in a sink. This is great to try in the privacy of your own home. Get your soap or gel and a washclothe, and attempt to clean yourself and or some children from a sink faucet. If you really want to taste reality, try washing your hair that way too!

When reality finally sinks in that this really isn't any fun, consider others who don't have the privacy of their own homes to do this in. This is their everyday experience. In Burger Kings, or McDonalds, or Wendy's, trying to get clean, and grateful for the opportunity!

Homeless people do this about once a month, when they are allowed in a public bathroom to do so.

Take your sink bath in COLD water!
Step 3

Take a walk around your neighborhood, and ask managers at stores or restaurants if they would ever hire anyone with a criminal background. 80% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, so what about someone who is already out of a job... let alone with a criminal record?

Maybe you were a wild teen, or lived in a slum and did what you had to, to survive... now it's on your record and people don't trust you. They are afraid of you. Go around your neighborhood and ask people if they would give "your friend" a job knowing they have a criminal record. It wouldn't matter what it was, it would be no. Amuse me, and follow this step anyway.
Step 4

Take a walk around your neighborhood, and find a place to sleep for the night. Inform the police what you are doing, and go as a family. No pillows, or blankets, or sleeping bags! Have your child give suggestions, and find out why that place would be better to sleep than another place. Do it!

A hot day or cold day would be better, but do what you must. A cardboard box is a reality, and so could be used as well.
Step 5

Consider your social life, or social status as a homeless person. No new clothes, or I-Pods, emails, or cellphones. Depressed homeless people often resort to drugs or alcohol. How much would you let your children play outside? What would you do for entertainment? Ask for money?
Step 6

Thank God for what you DO HAVE!!

This article was not meant to depress you, but to get your focus off of yourself and onto someone else. If you have a room to sleep in, clothes on your back, people who care about you, and the promise of a meal, YOU ARE BLESSED!

We will go to the grave with bills, so what!? Enjoy what you have, don't strive for what you really don't need.
Step 7

((1 Tim 6:6-8)) KJV

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.