Less fortunate people made me feel so blessed!

Poor and Needy! - Poor and needy children and yet unmindful of their miserable state.
@salonga (27775)
Philippines
October 20, 2008 4:41am CST
I've seen less fortunate people living in squatter's area. My heart was moved with compassion and prayed that someday soon they could build a better life. We gave out some food for them as part of the Church Outreach Ministry but it was only a short term help. How I wish a long term assistance will be given to them by the government. I pray these people will also learn to strive hard to help themselves. On the other side of my mind though... I felt so thankful to God for I can still live in a decent and comfortable place with all my needs still provided day by day. Sometimes, I tend to complain about simple issues of life without realizing that I am after all a very blessed person. How about you. Do you feel blessed or unfortunate? How do you feel when you see less fortunate people especially children living in squatter's area?
2 people like this
17 responses
• India
20 Oct 08
hi I feel myself blessed. It's not only because of the comfort I'm enjoying. It's because I can see the beauty of my Lords creation, I can enjoy hearing a singing bird. I can walk freely, all such unnoticed yet very much significant things I'm allowed to enjoy by HIS grace. So I feel myself blessed. So far as less fortunate people are concerned, they are also blessed because their hardship always reminds them about the existence of Lord. They either blame or praise the Lord. Anyway, they are remembering HIM most of the time. On the side, we are busy with enjoying life and run after fame. We have very little time to remember God. So who knows actually who are blessed or less fortunate.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
20 Oct 08
Wonderful thoughts! The wonder of God's hand is manifested in the beauty of the nature that surrounds us. Those things that seemed unsignificant if given enough attention could give us so much reasons to thank God for. So sad that people forget to thank God due to materialism and pleasures of this world. Thank you for sharing! God bless you!
• India
20 Oct 08
thanks. God bless you too.
@carmela0210 (1591)
• Philippines
20 Oct 08
ohh yeah!!!thats really true, i always think about it everytime that i have so many problems and wanted to end my life,lol, but when i think that there are lots of people out there that are much less fortunate than me then i would say that this was truly good!!!and happy to know that even i do have problems a lot im still fortunate and blessed!!! happy lotting...
• Philippines
20 Oct 08
no maybe it was just something of an idea but im really afraid to do it!!heheh, i cant imagine cutting myself or drinking something just to end my life,lol!!!but really everytime i feel so lonely and have so much problem and cant think i can bear that, i just imagine those who are not fortunate as i am!!!happy lotting...
1 person likes this
@djoyce71 (2511)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
When I see those less fortunate people, I, too, feel blessed and thankful to God for giving me this kind of life where I have a peaceful home, good job, loving family and friends around me. It makes me always think that I have no right to complain.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
30 Oct 08
Yes dear, we really have no right to complain with all the blessings we have! We just have to look around us and count all those blessings! Thanks Djoyce for your views! Have a nice day!
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
23 Oct 08
This is one reason I wish I have lots and lots of money in my own pocket, so that I can give some to much poorer people than me. I want to help a lot. I want to give a lot. But the problem is I have nothing to give to them. I feel more blessed than them and I thank the Lord for everything that I have. I only wish, I dream to be richer than what I am now, so I can help a lot...
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
Yes, I'm sad that those people who have the heart to give do not have the ability to give that much! How can we give much when we don't have that much. Of course we also do give but will no be sufficient help them all. I wish those Billionairres out there will share their blessings to this poor people! Thanks my firend for sharing!
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
Hi friend... I somehow always run late in participating with some of your discussions but nonetheless I'm here and here are my thoughts on this. Statistics show that our world's 4 billion poor remains the most daunting problem even as we enter the 21st century. Everyday we see calls for money to help. The cry is so persistent and the need is so inveterate that the tendency for many people is to tune out these images as well as these messages. Our compassion for them may never be discounted and we may sometimes heed the cry but our meager resources are as well so limited in what it can accomplish. But your subject is not of them but of us who may feel so fortunate. I firmly believe that fortune comes from being educated. Poverty can mask the fact that the poor are resilient entrepreneurs and value-conscious consumers, they only lack the credibility of being educated to be given a chance to contribute progressively to society. So I see my fortune in education and my bid to help is in educating one "less fortunate" child. Happy mylotting...
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
As I told you before friend... there is no late response to me. I value the thoughts more than anything else. And I thank you for taking time to respond to this discussion. Right my dear...education can do a great deal! I wish all the children will be given the chance to get proper education. That is the first step to success. I hope the government will open more free schools for the poor but deserving ones. I can only afford to sponsor one child at a time because as you said the resources is limited.
@Margarit (3676)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
When ever i see remote areas with many people living there especially young children i feel that i am very blessed too like you. Even though i am not rich, i find ways to do something to lessen their burden. Since I am a member of a Christian community where we build free houses to the less fortunate people. I have the opportunity to contribute something that i have, Through this i will able to help them to have a good shelter, a good place to live in ,in my own little way i can give hope for the hopeless.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
30 Oct 08
I admire people like you who do something to help the poor. I think we really have to do that. We have to do some actions to show we care. Although that will not suffice to help all of them. At least we have done our part. Thanks for sharing dear!
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
20 Oct 08
I too feel very blessed everyday to have the things I have, a place to live, food on my table, I don't want for anything, and yes my heart goes out to those who are less fortunate, I wish I was able to do more for those people, as thats what God wants us to be is compassionate people, and to show love to those around us. Have a good day
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
Good attitude friend! You are counting your blessings each day and that makes a person happy and contented. Every new day is actually a blessing by itself. What if the sun did not shine anymore and total darkness enveloped this world? And compassion for the less fortunate ones is a sign of a good heart. Let's pray for them.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
20 Oct 08
it would break my heart for the children sometimes & this may not be the case the adults can do better than what they are. so many people around here don't try to stand on their own two feet. they'll take from the goverment & anybody else they can.i don't like that. i worked hard for what i have & i am blessed that i could but i also thought about a rainy day along the way.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
It's with the children that I am most concerned. The adults...oh most of them are gambling and sitting around. They are not doing something to improve their living...and worse they have so many children they can't even send to school and perhaps even feed. I wish they will learn how to work and strive for their own betterment.
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
20 Oct 08
yeah i feel bless. i mean we used to live comfortably. then when i got hurt and became disable, then my wife became disable. we felt what being poor was. but God bless us with some good family who's got money. and reached out to us to make sure we didn't lost our house and we had our bills paid and food i learn there is always someone else got it worst then me.. i don't have as much as some but i got more then others
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
I admire you for still seeing the blessings despite your being disable. What a good spirit. Having good people around is indeed a blessing and not losing all is a big blessing as well. I thank God for people like you who could see the good things in the midst of trials. God bless you!
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
20 Oct 08
Hi salonga, Yes, I tend to forget that there are others that are so much less fortunate then myself. I should be more thankful then am. I do feel very badly when I see people that have so much less than I do. I am very lucky compared to so many. I may have problems and difficulties in my life, but I am more fortuate then so many others and I should take the time to be thankful for what I do have rather than think about what I don't have. You are right about that and I will keep that in mind when I get to feeling sorry for myself. I am truly blessed and I should thank God for all my blessings that I do have. Thank you for reminding my that I should stop and be more thankful and not so selfish and self absorbed.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
Good spirit Opal my friend! The Bible says in 1 Thess.5:18 - "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you." While it is true that sometimes we are not in a very good situation and thanking God seemed so hard to do but still there are blessings we tend to overlook. God has a purpose why He put us in that situation. Instead of feeling bad, we should rather look at the positive side, count our blessing and make the most of what we have. Thanks my friend for sharing! Have a fruitful day!
@pehpot (4762)
• Philippines
20 Oct 08
My hubby and I used to watch late night documentary shows and they usually show the less fortunate stories and people here in our country. I really do pity them and think how fortunate I am to have this kind of life. I knew some would say that they should be working and doing their job to improve their lives, but we all know that these people have lesser opportunities because of their status. Once we have watched people collecting garbages from fast food establishments and then they sort out the garbage and get food that still have meat on it and they sell it again and people bought and they would cook again. imagine, this kind of business is illegal and yet it thrives on and still people buy from this, so it really means that there are people who cannot afford good and clean food. My heart really goes for them and yet I can't do anything about it. All I can do is give alms to people begging on our door.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
Oh yes my dear, I also have watched those documentaries. Indeed it led me to the realization that there are so many poor in fact very, very poor people and they are so pitiful! Yes, those collecting garbage and cook again those semi-spoiled foods. My goodness they could kill people of food poisoning! I'm so sad to see those with carts and their family live in cars, and those sleeping at the underpass! I'm just sad I don't have enough resources to help all the poor people around.
@belk89 (1103)
• Philippines
20 Oct 08
I always appreciate the things that ive got. I dont compare my status of living to other people who have all the wealth. I always think that if we have food in our table and we still live in a descent place then we are blessed. There are other people out there who dont have any place to live. You will see them in the streets begging for alms. Day by day part of there life is to beg for alms and sleep in the cold floor. Without blanket to warm there body or other clothes to wear,so i never complain about problems that i have to deal with in my life. If something bad happen i always look at the brighter side of it. I know there is always a solution to every problem and i dont complain about how hard life is. Because i know i have no right to complain at all.I know that not all people is as fortunate as i am. So there is no reason for me to look for something that i dont have.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
Yes, I admire your good attitude in life! If we compare our status with wealthy people we just get envious and that leads to discontentment and unhappiness. Indeed we have so many things to thank God for. Although we are not as rich as other people but we have so many blessings to count. Thanks for your wonderful thoughts!
@lou_66 (909)
20 Oct 08
i do feel sorry for these people and would try to help as much as i can but sumtimes u need to ask why tjese people r in the situations they r in. even though sum people actions hav lead them to the lives they now live it does make me realise how lucky i am
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
Yes, it is sometimes their way of life that caused them to live miserably. I just hope they will realize that they also need to strive in order to save themselves instead of forever remaining idle and then they will blame the government. What I hope is a joint effort....the government will help and they also should help themselves. We are indeed more blessed we know how to live a good life.
@doorgesh (14)
• Australia
20 Oct 08
well all i can say is that you can change the fate of a whole village by a long term sponsorship. sponsor a child and poverty will be erased. thats what i'm doing. join world vision or wwww.plan.org and sponsor a child.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Oct 08
Well it could be of help but not to totally change their fate. That would be very impossible. I don't have the resources to sponsor all of them. Our church is doing our share but we are also not that rich to sustain all their needs. I think the government should rather spend money for their relocation and employment and the parents must also do their share. Most of them are irresponsible for they are just gambling and sitting around. I'm so concerned with the children.
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
20 Oct 08
I know what you mean my friend. But you know what? some of these people are just lazy to earn for a living and besides being lazy, they have plenty of kids? this is now the answer to your late posts about contraception. hahaha.. they are following the advice of the church that contraceptive is morally wrong that is why they have lots of kids now and they don;t have even a home to let them stay. yes, I pity those kids, very tiny ones who are very untidy, begging for food. It is really hard to imagine, why this happened when their parents are strong enough to find work and earn? they can sell anything to earn, not just by begging or whatever it is. The most important that they should bear in mind is that... controlling to have more babies to feed and to give a decent living and education. They really have lots of kids... am sure you will agree with me because i saw them too.
@pal7604 (98)
• Sweden
17 Apr 09
I am happy to hear that you have exerted your effort to help the poor. Why can't a long term assistance made possible? You have now seen that this people needs help. Why not encourage others to help and with your skills you probably can work it out. You say you feel so blessed because you have so much compared with the poor. I think you should re-think, you should say that you are blessed because you are able to help the poor not for what you have. Do you know who St Francis & St Clare of Assisi? We are so wrapped up with all the material things around us and we forget that a piece of bread, a blanket perhaps can make someone feel so loved. Bless you with your good deed.
@zalilame (880)
• Malaysia
20 Oct 08
I felt the same way too. I used to be living like that. During my childhood my parents worked as rubber tappers. To cook lunch which was my responsibilities, I had to go around the house and collect leaves or ulam that we can eat. Usually it'll be tapioca shoots or leaves and some rice. But my parents was aware of the importance of education so they save MYR 1 a day and we managed to go to school without having to borrow money from relatives. I just hope that somebody will try to help these people. Maybe set up a factory which older kids or teen can work. And maybe those rich and famous lot set up some charity home for them. Hopefully.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
20 Oct 08
What an interesting childhood you have had. I'm glad to hear people rising from poverty out of their own diligence. I admire you and your parents! Yes, I wish the government can give these poor people the chance to live a decent life. The children are pitiful. I wish I could adopt them all so I can send them to school. I wish the super super rich people can share their blessings to them.