Little Women revealed a glimpse into another period of poverty and strife in this country

The story revolves around the lives of four sisters growing up during and after the Civil War. With their father off fighting the war, the girls face the hardships and constraints of poverty and social expectations.

During the Civil War, poverty and poor relief, especially in times of acute food shortages, were major challenges for both the soldiers and the families at home. This was compounded by inflation of necessities and the devaluing of currency. Farm families relied solely on what could be raised on the land but there was little money to buy other things such as flour or other things needed for feeding a family. Starvation became an issue for the soldiers and the families.

These sisters had some hard times but perhaps not as hard as it became for some others. “Famine is staring us in the face. There is nothing so heart rending to a Mother as to have her children crying round her for bread and she have none to give them.” This was in a letter from a farmwife. https://www.ncpedia.org/

This was over 150 years ago and some are fearing that the poverty issues of that time may be our future. Of course, there are many differences and these differences will result in new issues. Whatever the cause, impoverished families suffering from hunger and a brand new (permanent) reality can result in some of the same issues faced at that time.

They had their social events just as we have our social events before their world imploded, albeit these are very different. Underlying this is that all rising adults want to be with friends, have fun, make friendships, begin to establish lasting relationships that lead to families, and to pursue a rewarding career. They want emotional stability, assurance of hope in their desires and aspirations, and a life that is currently sustainable without social stigma and without the problems that come with extended poverty. This is a story that is repeated throughout history in many post-war situations and in many epochs of troubled times.

The pandemic of 2020 is another time of changed reality. Hard times are coming. Just as, at the time of this writing, our country is reaching the height of the bell curve in contagion and deaths, the curve of adjustment to this new reality is at the top of the curve and is not yet over. Jobs have been permanently lost and businesses are permanently closing. Yes, there will be new businesses with different process and a whole new generation of jobs that were never available before. Life can and will return to one of prosperity and comfort for those who will be in engaged in this part of the reality.

There are those, however, who are facing this new reality and are in the midst of a rapid decline to poverty, unemployment, suffering and will be the victims of the changes of this new world. Some are facing the loss of family, of breadwinners, of continuity, or skills to work in this world. Survivors in this group will end up at the bottom of this bell curve that is currently being traced for the future history books. Social expectations, status and living circumstances will leave a permanent black hole in the society that currently exists.

Is there no hope?

We CAN overcome denial, accept the changes, acknowledge we grieve over the changes, celebrate the new, adjust by learning new work and coping skills, look forward to the new opportunities despite the challenges, take action to educate yourself in the new skills need to thrive in the new environment, become creative and innovative to fit into the new society. But, foremost, you can know the God has provided hope for now and for all eternity through his Son, Jesus Christ.

There is not a step-by-step manual on how to begin the transformation. You need to observe, assess, and implement your new place in the new order. But, the promises of God can carry us as we move into this new territory, relying on his GRACE and MERCY to guide us.

Romans 8 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Job 22: 21 “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. 22 Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. 23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent 24 and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, 25 then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. 26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. 27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. 28 What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. 29 When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast. 30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”

Have faith that we can come through this personally, as a family and as a nation.

Hebrews 11: 1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.