A wealthy man once took his young son on a trip to the countryside. His goal was to help the boy understand how less fortunate people lived. They spent a few days on a modest farm owned by a family the father considered to be very poor.
After they returned home, the father asked, “So, what did you think of the trip?”
“It was amazing, Dad,” the boy replied.
“And did you see how poor people live?” his father asked.
“I did,” the boy said.
Curious, the father encouraged him to share what he had learned.
“Well,” the boy began, “they have four dogs—we only have one. We have a pool in our backyard, but they have an endless river. Our house has fancy lights, but they sleep under a sky full of stars. We have a small patio, but they have the entire horizon.”
He went on, “We own a tiny piece of land, but they live surrounded by open fields. We buy our food—they grow theirs. And we have fences for protection, but they have friends who keep them safe.”
The father was left speechless.
Then the boy added softly, “Thanks, Dad… for showing me how poor we really are.”