Day 218 - Bottom step

Mark and I have gone through a lot of financial changes. We use to be a two-income family making great money and had no problem spending it and putting things on credit cards because we felt like we could and we should. We were also putting money away in savings accounts for our kids and some in our 401K's. But, it still never felt like we had enough and we always wanted more, more, more. When I was laid off we went down to one income, which cut everything in half, well except for our bills because those stayed the same. Right away we felt a major squeeze and had to readjust our life, especially since me finding a job at that time was nearly impossible and so we had to short sale our house because we simply could not make ends meet anymore. That first year was really hard and we felt like we had nothing left. Fast forward to Mark being laid off last December and then we really felt like we had nothing. Any day before actually looked really good and we were living off of our unemployment and all of the savings we had left, including our 401K's. Fast forward again to last week, when we realized that we literally have nothing to live on and we cannot make ends meet without the grace of God. There are no promises and nothing to fall back on.

Why am I telling you this? It took me until last week to realize that often when things seem really bad, they are not even close. Every step down for us felt like we had lost everything and yet looking back we had so much. Even up to a month ago we had enough money to get us by and look where we are right now. What I wouldn't give to be a one-income family right now and at the time our world was crashing down on us. Or what I wouldn't give to have money from our 401K's in our bank account so that we could have some safety, but our world was falling apart. It's amazing what the value of a dollar really is, when you have to decide how to pay equally important bills. And yet, I still know that things could be so much worse, I get it now.

I don't know what situation you are going through right now, it doesn't have to be financial to relate. Whatever it is, it can probably be a lot worse, even if you think it can't be. Find all of the pieces of your life and carefully watch each one. Protect what you do have, adjust your life, and use what you have humbly. Don't over extend yourself. Most importantly be grateful for your blessing. Nothing is promised tomorrow. Don't spend your time being overly dramatic or get caught up in the ways of others, instead spend it full of grace, joy and love. Don't complain about how little you have, God can show you how little you really can live on. Right now I am so thankful for a healthy family, a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. And I pray that this is the bottom step for us and for you as well, in whatever you are going through.