This Economy is Killing Us!!

I recieved a phone call from my oldest son last night, he is 41 years old. He is in Texas and I am in New Hampshire. He has a lawn service that he has done very well with for the last 10 years. But as fate would have it the economy fell in the ditch and his loyal customers started calling and canceling their weekly or bi-weekly service with him, then there is the drought there now that has hung on for many months and is suppose to continue into this year. So he had to find work outside of his business. It was hard for him, as so many employers are keeping their staff to a minimum, but he did find a job that is an hour from his home, and the pay isn't enough but at least he is working and making the effort. So things have been steadily going down hill for him.
Let me explain something to you about my son. He is a hard working family man and enjoys taking care of his family. He has a big heart and loves his wife, as all men should love their wives, completely and wholeheartedly. It took him a while to grow up and become responsible but at the ripe age of 30 he did just that. He turned his life around and became a great Dad and a awesome husband. I am very, very proud of my son. How many of you are honest, hard working people, yet struggling? Your mind doesn't rest so your body doesn't either.
Having said all that I will get back to the phone call. He called and just needed to talk to me and I asked him what was wrong. He started crying so hard it broke my heart. He said that they have pawned everything of value just to keep their heads above water and it has been a constant struggle for them for months now. They are both working, and he has applied for night time work as well, but neither have a good paying job, but they ARE working. He has a gas guzzling truck that he has to fill up twice a week just to get to the job that does not pay much. But he has to have that truck to take care of the few customers he has left. So in essence between the two of them they have three jobs. And still not enough income to keep his mortgage and bills paid. He told me it would be so easy to just check out of life. His words were, ' It would be so easy!!' This scares the hell out of me, how many others are thinking the exact same thing??
I know some of you have read other hubs of mine on suicide and know how it broke my heart when my Dad commited nearly 24 years ago. But this is my son, my flesh and blood and it sent chills down my spine to hear him say those words. I begged him not entertain such thoughts. I told him it would devastate his wife and children and break my heart to know that my big hearted son would no longer be here for me to talk to or laugh with. I told him something I have lived by for many years and that is, ' Don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle'! And trust me, I know this easier said than done!
I tried to explain to him that times are very tough right and many are going through similar situations that he and his wife are going through. Life is hard and sometimes we have to weather the storm and let God calm the storm in us even when the storm is raging around us. It's tough but the alternative is not the answer. I love my son with everything in me, he is funny, he is responsible, he loves deeply and he feels deeply, just like his Mom. He is very strong and very strong willed, he takes no crap off of anyone, he is straight forward but very respectful, he is honest and kind and a very hard worker, he takes pride in what he does. So many wonderful traits, yet now he feels less of a man because he has fallen behind in his finances and is struggling to take care of his family and his home.
How many of us have been there?? How many of us are there now?? I would guess more than any of us would care to think about. So many losing their homes, families destroyed, hearts broke and lives shattered because of this failing economy. What do you do?? What do you say?? I know that many are asking themselves, do we save the house, save our vehicles? After all the savings is gone and there is nowhere else to turn. I can understand how the fight gets to be to much. Every morning we get up and head for our jobs with the bills on our minds, how will we afford groceries this week? How will we put gas in our cars, keep the house warm? All questions I am sure each and every one of us have asked.
We read it the paper, hear it on the news every day. Yet we know, in each of our households, how hard it is these days. Then we hear that our President spent 4 million dollars on a Christmas vacation. Can you imagine that? I feel he could have had the common decency to us as Americans to keep that out of the press when so many of us are struggling to put food on the table and buy a few gifts for our loved ones, let alone go on a extravagant VACATION!
This is my son coming to me with suicide on his mind because, he is so weary of the constant day to day struggle in his mind and in his home. It makes me very angry that he, like many others, have been pushed into a corner that seems no way out of except to end it. And I know too that although he is not your son, and the many that we hear of that take these drastic actions are not even related to you or I, but they ARE someones son or daughter, or husband or wife or father or mother or friend.
My son is better today, it helped him to talk to me and let his feelings out. I am glad that he knows he can talk to me and cry, I think very highly of him and very proud to be his Mom. Sometimes it takes that good cry to relieve that pressure. But I just wonder how many do not have anyone to turn to, we all need each other in this day and time, to support each other in anyway we can, to say hey I am here for you, lean on me. That's what we do as Americans, as families, as friends.
So what are we going to do about our economy??? We have to get out and let our voices be heard. We have to shout to the world we are tired of this and we want better for our country, for our people, for our towns, for all the families, for our children, that will one day be out in the working world trying to make a life for themsleves. If we don't take a stand now I feel very sad that we will see more and more of what my son was thinking of doing and the great spirit of the people will be oppressed and we will be just a shell of what this country once was! We have to come together as a UNITED country and stand up for what we believe in, stand up for each other, stand up for what is right. I know that it is to late for many, but I pray that we can do enough to put an end to this economy that IS literally killing us. What will you do??