What Trials Do You have In Your Life?

Life is filled with trials. Each of us have our own kind of trial and each of up think that out trials are worse than anyone else's. For me, when I work with families of all ages, I see the trials they go through. I see how depressed and stressed they become. My heart just goes out to these families. I have seen many families, both young and old who do not have the money to purchase even the basic necessities of life. We cant live without food, water, heat and for many, medicine.

I would like to tell you a story about a family who are having their share of trials. This family looks like your typical family. There is a Man and Woman with three daughters. One daughter is 14, the middle one is 9 and the youngest is 6. What makes this family unique is that both the Man and the middle daughter as well as the Woman has had to have surgery over the last year.

In our area, one must travel long distances to visit the Doctor. With the price of gas, the families budget has to be adapted to even stricter measures. The man can no longer work. He has had three surgeries just this year. He had brain tumor, back surgery, and ankle surgery. The woman had to have back surgery and the middle daughter has had multiple surgeries on her foot and legs.

They use wood in their heat stove. They have a written permission to cut trees that have already fallen down on the Monongalia National Forest. However, now they are not able to do that.

How does a family like this ever get ahead? They just seem to get more behind. There is not income right now as they are not able to work. They do receive food stamps but they need so much more than they receive. They have used all their savings just on hospital bills. They have lost their insurance. Now they just live day to day. At least the kids get a balanced meal for lunch when they are at school.

Now I would like to tell you about another family. This is a family of two elderly people. They are living on less than $400. A month. The man required a lot of different medications. They cant afford to purchase them so they have applied to pharmaceutical's programs and are now receiving some free meds. It is very stressful for them as they have to resubmit applications for med each 3 months. They heat their home with wood. They are not able to cut their own wood or to carry it into the home. Family has been rotating to help them with their wood.

They have been out of water for several months. Their well seems to have gone dry, as did several other homes near them. Each day they wonder how will they survive the trials of everyday life.

One last family that I want to tell you about is a family consisting of a father, mother and four children ranging in age from 11 to 17. This family are all hard workers. Each of them has their own chores to do each day. They raise their own beef, hogs, chickens, horses and other farm animals. They try to be

self -sufficient but a year ago, the father lost his job. Along with the job went the insurance. Shortly after the insurance was non existent., the oldest son broke his arm and collar bone. Then the youngest developed shingles. To top it all off, the next to the oldest also broke his arm while riding the horse. How will this family ever get ahead again? They used all the money they had to pay medical bills.

After working with families like this everyday, I have a new perspective on trials. I no longer think mine is the worst. I just want to bring them all home with me and take care of them but that is not possible. The only thing I can do is listen to them when they want to share their thoughts and trials with someone. I have found that these families are truly happy. They have found out that it is not money that keeps us happy. They will tell you that they still have their family and they have love. That is what makes them happy. After listening to these stories, I feel so blessed with all that I have.

Have you realized how fortunate you are?

If anyone truly wants to feel fortunate, just do some volunteer work for a non profit organization that serves the low income. I promise that you will feel so lucky for what you have and maybe even gain a new outlook on life.