Inspiring Stories

How Rich Are We? 

 

One day a father and his rich family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him 

how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night on the farm of a very poor family. When they got 

back from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "Very good Dad!" "Did you see how poor 

people can be?" the father asked. "Yeah!" exclaimed the son. "And what did you learn?" asked the father. 

The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to 

the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they 

have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard; they have a whole horizon." When the little boy was 

finished, his father was speechless. His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how 'poor' we are!" 

Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good 

humor and a positive attitude towards life -- you've got everything! You can't buy any of these things. You 

may have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc.; but if you are poor of 

spirit, you have nothing! 

For Discussion or Writing 

1.“If you are poor of spirit, you have nothing.” Explain the meaning within this story. 

2. “It all depends on how you look at things….” What does that mean in this story? Give an example from 

your life of this. 

3. Who are the “poor people” in this story? Why?