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High Water Pants Poor

High Water Pants Poor

High Water Pants Poor--boy's legs and bare feet wearing tight, ripped, and too short jeansAll my life, I heard people talk about high water pants. They meant pants that were too short. Sometimes they bought them without trying them on for a proper fit. In most cases, they had either outgrown them or washed them until they shrank

When children outgrew their pants and families could not afford more, they were high water pants poor.

They had to make do until they could do better.

High water pant legs stop above the ankle.

I never considered that a fashion statement. However, many people desire high water pants. In fact, I have worn them without realizing they fit the definition. Various names include:

  • Capris
  • Cropped pants
  • Flood pants
  • Ankle pants
  • Kick flares
  • Clam diggers
  • Pedal Pushers

Like ripped jeans, what was once a sign of poverty became a fashion trend.

The high water pants poor are often richer than they think.

Like the dirt poor, they enjoy wealth beyond measure if they have:

  • Safe housing
  • Food for every day
  • Access to medical care
  • More than one change of clothes, fashionable or not
  • Family and friends who love them

Money cannot buy the greatest riches.

Peace, love, hope, and joy do not depend on stylish clothes or financial gain. Those signs of success never last. Rather, true riches come from following Jesus and finding new life and purpose in Him.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV).

Thanks to Ona Buckner Sidebottom for the suggestion and to Karen Atwood for the photo.

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Poor as a Church Mouse

Poor as a Church Mouse

Poor as a Church Mouse--mouse on a fenceIf we are poor as a church mouse, we are the poorest of the poor.

We own almost nothing.

Years ago, few churches had kitchens. Therefore, if a mouse lived in a church, it had little to eat. A child might drop crumbs from a snack. Yet, that would not last long. The poor mouse might starve.

We may have times poor as a church mouse. We may also have times rich as a king.

Our happiness does not depend on what we own.

We can be poor as church mice and happy. We make do.

We can also live high on the hog, and be unhappy.

Money matters little for true meaning in life.

We find real wealth in:

  • Peace in our souls
  • Purpose for living
  • Love for God and one another
  • Hope for the future
  • Joy for every day
  • Sharing what we have with those in need

We can’t take it with us when we die. So, why not put what we own to good use now?

“Better to be poor and honest than rich and a cheater” (Proverbs 28:6 TLB).

Thanks to Debbie Tapscott for the suggestion.

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