“In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.”
― Fred Rogers,The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

It is my understanding the stress of how to pay the bills the lack of money is probably the number one cause of domestic violence.

In these desperate times it is a fair guess that on every person around the world are stressed about their money situation.

When I was seventeen I had a job working in an orchard.  They were long days but at least it was a job.  I had just bought my first car a 1973 Ford Pinto Station Wagon.  I was putting a lot of miles driving back and forth from where I was living.

I decided to move into my first place an apartment over a bank in the next town from where I was working.  So, I move in furnished with bits and pieces family had that I could use.

Now comes the bad part.  I picked up my grandmother to go grocery shopping with me.  I picked up what I thought I would need to get me through the next two weeks.  I was a happy camper until I went to the cashier.  She put everything through, gave me the total.  I looked at my wallet to pay for the groceries and when it was all done I had very little extra.  I stood there in line crying.

My daughter was born in 1985 and we were living in a very small one bedroom apartment.  Times were tough for me for finances were thin.  There were times when it came down to buying baby formula or putting gas in the tank.  The baby’s needs always took priority.

I realize and understand the pressures that are felt when we are stressed about our financial needs.  Here in Canada there are some relief measures taking place.  They are expecting over three million people to put in a claim this next week.  Adults that qualify will receive five hundred dollars a week.  That is not much when you have rent or a mortgage to pay.

A cold chill comes over me when I think of what type of stories we will hear a month from now when the relief finances are just not enough.  The Canadian Government has set this up for at least four months.

So, dear reader, I am not sure what may happen but I have a feeling were are in this for a protracted period of time.

I will be praying for our country, our continent, our world, as we move forward.