Dear Papa Joe,
Please just call me R. I read one of your posts about the umbrella—how it becomes a hassle to carry when there is no rain. That is exactly how I feel in my situation now. When I was still single, I was the one helping my family, even supporting my siblings' young children. Now that I am married and my husband is also poor, every time I share my problems, especially financial ones, they just tell me, 'That is just how life is, R.' I drop hints, hoping they would offer even a little help, but nothing comes. So I really relate to the umbrella. I do not know if I need advice or just want to vent. It hurts even more when they say I have a comfortable life because I am an OFW, and yet they know I am poor and married a poor man. Those words are very painful.
Papa Joe's Response
R,
It might be best to tell them your true intentions because they might think you are just venting and that you are a strong woman, so they just cheer you on. Or perhaps they really have nothing to offer. It is better to know their reason than to let your mind be clouded by negative thoughts. However, we can see that they have a somewhat toxic mentality in what they said—why did you marry a poor man when you knew you were poor and had a good life as an OFW? After all, they benefited from you. That is in the past. What matters is that your relationship with your husband is strong, and you both keep trying despite many trials. The answer to our prayers will come at the right time. Remember, there are reasons why these trials happen to us.
