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| My father's labor gave us much |
Back in the ‘40’s, my father,
a hard and diligent worker had a beautiful home built for his wife and family. As tough as life was for a Black man then, I
dare say a working man of any color, these days, could not do what he did then. The
money is not there.
Yesterday ESPN Sports
commentators were arguing over team owners giving a football player a contract
for $44 million; “he deserved $60 million”.
Headline news everyday draws
our attention to issues involving millions, even billions of dollars. Big money deals anticipated, sought after, and
agreed to are front-page news in all sections - sports, entertainment and business.
There's no big money talk involving
the working person. In fact, I’m
fearful the lack of money softly panics a large portion of the U.S. working
population’s sense of well-being. Stress
is the byproduct.
The cost of living continues
to rise. The pay scale for work performed doesn't seem to increase. A living wage is barely assured in many job categories.
Resourceful families find a way to survive. I don’t hear
complaints. Jobs are not plentiful. They
are grateful. #1. Someone holds two or
more jobs. Then bills are paid. Or, #2.
At least two in the family work a full time job. The family has basic needs; shelter,
food, clothing, medical care, heat, light, telephone, AC, school supplies,
furniture & fixtures, computers/tablets, and WiFi, and meet their tax
obligations. Will those families have
money saved for retirement, for emergencies?
I’m doubting.
Observing this modern
phenomenon, i.e., any one (or combination of individuals) absent not home
because they must work, has me pining about the sacrifice of important family
interaction time.
No meals together.
No time to meet with teachers.
Who oversees homework;
readiness for tomorrow?
No time to share activities
(games, school events, etc.)
Only rushed attention to
issues of concern.
Too tired to seek spiritual
enrichment.
Corporations and
organizations increase profits with marketing strategies that tantalize the
publics desire for expensive ‘product’ – entertainment, hard goods, technology,
furniture, wants, not ‘need’. In recent
days, via TV, a toddler came into our
consciousness, strolling beside her mother .
The commentator said the child was in a $3,000 dress. I don’t personally know of anyone who would
want to dress a child in such an expensive garment. However I understand such a news item
suggests a bit of extravagant spending to those who do not have extravagant
income. The “I want” mentality is easy
to cultivate. It keeps the economy
elevated while wages and salaries remain at a level barely meeting the “I need”
reality.
Is there a money crisis on
track to obliterate the middle class and middle class values? There is when wages and salaries are
virtually stagnant.
How can we improve the
situation? Well, we can listen to the
political candidates and vote for those who understand the crisis. Simultaneously we can reach out to assist one
another. Perhaps money management clubs
dealing with household expense management.
Our church is involved in a
program that helps by tutoring young people.
In a Facebook post, I was happy to learn about a pre-Labor Day
Sunday Sermon. The Pastor had his
congregation bring in ‘tools’ used to do
their job. Those tools were placed on a
table and blessed. The Pastor’s message also reminded the congregation our
hands are tools and he blessed the hands of each. Pastor said,
“God has given us many gifts & when we combine the gifts we
have, with the tools we use, we can do wonderful things for people & make a
difference in people's lives”.
Thank you, Pastor Lagos. (Plainville UMC - GNJUMC)
