Every week we are praying for another family who's lost an income or who's had their hours cut back or who owns a small business shop that is struggling to keep the lights on or who is a contractor/sales person waiting and waiting for their next contract or sale.
Because we live in a tourist destination area, we don't have "trickle down" effect, we have "Flood down". When people lose jobs, they don't have the money to take vacations it's simple math. If they don't take vacations, they don't need hotel rooms or beach houses to rent. If they don't stay at our hotels or beach houses, they don't eat at our restaurants, they don't shop at our gift shops, they don't buy our gas or our groceries. Then the supporting businesses suffer in kind. We don't need to clean the rooms or houses or pools, fix broken things, deliver anything, and on and on. If the beach houses can't be rented, the owner can't make his mortgage, she/he has to sell the house or lose it. We're seeing both in increasing numbers. I haven't seen it to recognize it yet, but our public services will start suffering more because if there are less rentals, then there's less sales and occupancy taxes being paid. Less taxes leads to less public services, which leads to layoffs there too.
All these actions lead to people losing their jobs with no local prospects. This means people will have to move out of the area, which means people will stop renting their houses, and apartments. Or they have to try to sell their houses (or lose them), we're seeing both in increasing numbers. People moving out of the area will mean more "flood down" effect for those of us remaining.
Now imagine this for hundreds of tourist destination areas around the country. This goes for all of the beach front regions (oceans and lakes), all of the ski resort regions, even your gambling towns. Thousands and thousands of families being effected. Then you throw them in with the auto industry, financial services, and home building/sales. Multiply that out and you see where our country is right now.
But in all this I bless the Name of the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever! Bless His Holy Name! He is merciful. He is mighty. He is loving and kind. Even in our darkest of hours we can stand on His promises like a rock. His word says, "I will never leave you as orphans." I KNOW that it true.
Pray for your brothers and sisters here and around the world. Give where you can help. Share what you have. Hold a hand, cry with the crying and rejoice with the one who rejoices. DO something.
THE JOHNSON CHRONICLES: FOLLOW THE JOHNSON FAMILY'S UPS AND DOWNS!
3 comments:
That was beautifully written. Way up here in Canada we are seeing the same phenomenon; we also have thousands of families who depend on the auto industry or tourism. Tough times are coming for us all...but as you say, God is our constant.
It's a hard season, for certain.
We just got hit with a couple hard bits of news regarding our own financial circumstances - choosing to be grateful and have joy has been a hard one this week. But it could be so much worse. We have The Boss's job, we have a home, and we have a healthy happy family. For that, I am grateful. And I will choose joy.
Great reminders. Thanks!
Hello. I came to your blog through Nathan's blog. I must admit, I just read it from begining to end. I LOVE it. My husband and I are in the process of becoming foster parents. We have thought about international adoption, but the price is just to much for us to afford. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
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