Do you know what it is to do without?

Many people don't have a clue what it's like to be without. I think everyone ought to have to go through it at least once in their lives, that way people wouldn't be so judgemental of those without. I also believe that some that are without don't even know they are without unless someone points it out to them. (nice car, clothes, etc) Give me the basics food shelter and clothing and I'm good to go, or better yet, let me grow some food learn to hunt and fish then I'm good to go. have a great day everyone

I clearly remember what my school teacher said when I was in primary school - I cried when I have no shoes, until I see someone that has no feet

You are right, right now we have a Daughter on food stamps who is on Social Security Disability, and she really feels the tightness of having to do without, but she always has food, shelter and even a car. In fact no one in our family has ever gone without a meal, many times there has been a lack of new clothes and repairs to homes have been put off, but none of us has really gone without, this makes is very hard to truly identify with what Japan is going through right now. One has only to look at the total destruction in many places to know that many are not finding food or shelter. I do notice that the news plays this down, and wonder if the Japaneese government is keeping the lid on that part of the situation. But I must admit that these conditions could happen where we live, in fact it's only a matter of time. West Coast USA

Hi Pose123!. Need a English lesson help here what is the meaning of this "coin at once" been wondering but had no clue what is about. So not really clear what are you talk about. I really curious about it. I will not able to discuss it if I don't know. sorry

Yes, when we give something to the unfortunate, even when we just talk with some unfortunate, we would thank of how we have more that they are. I don't want to be without before I understand how I must be grateful with my life.

There are alot of things taken for granted by people. Abundance is sometimes taken for granted. Just because we have so much, we spend and spend without thinking of saving some for tomorrow. In our abundance, we should always try to share something to those who don't have. However, even if we only have so much, we should also learn how to share even for a little. It's better to share what little we have, than sharing because we are in abundance. Don't you think so?

I think we are all guilty more or less for taking things for granted, even people! And it's not until we have lost them either temporary or permanently that we truly appreciate what we had in the first place! An example for me is something that everyone of us takes for granted, freedom! I didn't realize how freedom was so precious until I got myself into an abusive relationship and I truly lost my freedom. Now however I do appreciate freedom that is why I intend to stay single for the rest of my life and never take freedom for granted. Do you also realize that we all take electricity for granted. Could you imagine now a world without it? I shudder to think and when you get a power cut then you realize it!

i agree. kids especially take things for granted nowadays, with things. where many of us would of had to do with out on somethings when we grew up, or did without till we saved up the money to get what we were wanting. i've got to go without now on somethings or just wait till i can afford to get it. my ex inlaws usually go somewhere when they have my son and he brings home a new dvd, or toy. i look at it as they are buying him more than just showing him love, but i cant afford to be going lots of places and getting things. i believe in the long run it will do my son good to miss out on some things.

I think that we do not know a lot about doing without. And there are some people that do without a lot more than people will ever know. There are so many luxuries that people have that they truly do not even think twice about having. Two of those would be electricity & running water. There are still some that do not have electricity & some just have a well that they have to tote water from. It is easy to take for granted something that you have had all of your life, yet there are some that do not have those that we think not a lot about having.

Sure Pose123 I faced reality when I left my luxury life to help poor people at Caritas Ministry. I have 15 years working for poor people. I haven´t had a salary, never. I understand them. There were too many things I couldn´t understand of them. I just critized and pointed them. But I have learnt about their sufferings, and their behavior. They have both both and bad things, as everybody... we can experiece so many things. And when we watch things going wrong in the world, we can say at least... don´t ask me why? I feel happy to have met this ministry. How have you helped them? Blessings!... Dainy

Hi Pose~ I must admit that I do believe that we sometimes do forget what it's like to do without things until we have no choice. I used to be a fairly "healthy working woman" until a few years ago and now I am on Disability through NYS which is a nightmare! I have to live on a "fixed" income which is definitely not enough for anyone to live on, especially in the State of NY and they know it and don't give a damn! They give me money, which I paid into taxes for over many years on hard work and then make me pay for "Medicaid" which is a lessor form of Insurance that most Physicians don't accept. I have been left without the proper medical care now for two years which may have cost me a serious health condition and the State will deny any blame, when they are entirely to blame since I had no money to get the proper care because of their moronic "rules and regulations"! What was the purpose of my working my azz off for over 35 years for? And I know that you are talking about other issues, like the people in Japan and how they are doing without everything after being one of the most wealthiest contries. I don't even know what to say except that they have many countries especially the USA reaching out to help them.

Doesn't everyone do without something they really want in life??? God will provide what we truly need. The rest doesn't really matter. I have a friend with lots of kids and no money. He said if God wants them here on Earth, He has to find a way to feed them. My friend is very relaxed. He says the money will come from somewhere. Of course, my friend is not a lazy person so there are no lessons for him to learn there.

As it happens we've been standing at the precipice staring down into possible homelessness ever since my heart failure. My doctors haven't released me for possible work yet and getting any assistance from the multiple charity organizations is a farce. When asked for help some even had the audacity to send me information on where to send my donation..gee.. Not exaactly what you were asking but it needed be said. I suspect that most folks have no notion, nor do they want one.. When I was younger, when they still had paperboys in the musty dusty past, there were 2 routes I collected on. One was out in middle-class land and the other was closer to the city welfare land. On those hot/cold Ohio days I learned about generosity. When collecting out in middle-class land, most often, they'd close doors in my face not wanting to let the heat/air conditioning out and never offered even a glass of water..But down in welfare land I was invited into their homes to get away from the weather and offered water, coffee and hot chocolate. There was one black fella who, whenever I came by during the hot, insisted I set a spell on his porch before moving on. Christmas bonuses were more from the poor folks. I think that the problem is that too many folk never really mature so much as they age and confuse age with maturity. The terrible 2's comes to mind..'Its all about me!' kind of thinking. They understand charity from the reception point of view and never really learn it from the giving perspective, which makes them counter social and help keep the society as a whole from maturing. As I have said before, we have the greatest toys of any age yet however, socially and emotionally we are still living in caves.. Enjoy!

Hi Pose: I totally agree with you. I know hoew bad it feels when you don't have enough opportunities or you don't have the money you want to have. I have to thanked God that I have always had something to eat and that I am in a good situation right now. I think we all have to value these gifts and not wait until we lose it all. ALVARO