How Poor We Really Are

One day, a wealthy family man took his son on a trip to the country so he could have his son see how poor country people were.

They stayed one day and one night in the farmhouse of a very humble farm. On the way back home at the end of the trip the father asked the son, "What did you think of the trip?"

The son replied, "Very nice, Dad."

The father then asked, "Did you notice how poor they were?"

The son replied, "Yes, I guess so."

The father then added, "And what did you learn?"

To this question, the son thought for a moment and answered slowly, "I learned that we have one dog in the house and they have four. We have a fountain in the garden and they have a stream that has no end.

"We have fancy lanterns in our garden, while they have the stars. Our garden goes to the edge of our yard, but for their back yard, they have the entire horizon!"

At the end of the son's reply, the rich father was speechless. His son then added: "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we really are."

While having money is definitely an added perk it in no way ensures happiness. Eizehu Ashir? HaSameach Bicholko; Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot. It's easy to stand from a  distance and look at those more well off and wish we could be like them or speculate that they have everything. This though is falsehood for we have no way of knowing what is really going on in their lives and if in fact we are the ones who are actually "richer."


 "The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money."