BY MITCH ALBOM
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
Every day I have less - In my bank account.
Every day I grow scared - As my losses mount.
Every day there is less - To the house that I own
And the equity in it - Like the wind, has blown.
Every day I see less - On my bottom line.
Every day something worsens - That used to be fine.
Every day in my family - There's worry and stress.
Where we once dreamed of more - We now do with less.
Every day I hear stories - Of a company's worth
Sinking to levels - From before my birth.
And places I shopped - Are now closing their doors..
Big firms I grew up with - Are big firms no more.
Every day I have less -Of a once strong sensation
That the leaders we choose - Are good for our nation.
Every day I think less - Of a boss I respected
Who parachutes out - With his own butt protected.
Every day I see less - Of the country I knew
Of the dreams we encouraged - Under red, white and blue.
Instead I see signs - Of foreclosure and sale
And people afraid - Of what comes in the mail.
I see layoffs and cutbacks - No help for the needy
As billions are given - To the powered and greedy.
And this news, it is endless - It burrows so deep.
It shadows my waking - It's haunting my sleep.
Yet every day I have less - I cannot ignore it.
Something grows clearer - That wasn't before it.
If I still have a job - I am luckier than some.
If I still have my house - It is better than none.
If I still have my wits - There are mouths I can feed.
If I still have my family - What more do I need?
If I still have my health - I am mercifully blessed.
If I think I have little - Someone has less.
Every day I discover - More mercy in me.
Every day I find out - Who my true friends will be.
Every day that I stumble - Or say, "I can't do it!"
Is a day I discover - With God's grace, I get through it.
So I learn a new lesson - If I keep a new score
That every day I have less - May be a day I have more.