BY MITCH ALBOM

                          FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

              Every day I have less - In my bank account.

             Every day I grow scared - As my losses mount.

           Every day there is less - To the house that I own

            And the equity in it - Like the wind, has blown.

               Every day I see less - On my bottom line.

          Every day something worsens - That used to be fine.

           Every day in my family - There's worry and stress.

          Where we once dreamed of more - We now do with less.

            Every day I hear stories - Of a company's worth

               Sinking to levels - From before my birth.

          And places I shopped - Are now closing their doors..

           Big firms I grew up with - Are big firms no more.

           Every day I have less -Of a once strong sensation

         That the leaders we choose - Are good for our nation.

             Every day I think less - Of a boss I respected

           Who parachutes out - With his own butt protected.

              Every day I see less - Of the country I knew

        Of the dreams we encouraged - Under red, white and blue.

             Instead I see signs - Of foreclosure and sale

             And people afraid - Of what comes in the mail.

           I see layoffs and cutbacks - No help for the needy

           As billions are given - To the powered and greedy.

           And this news, it is endless - It burrows so deep.

             It shadows my waking - It's haunting my sleep.

            Yet every day I have less - I cannot ignore it.

            Something grows clearer - That wasn't before it.

            If I still have a job - I am luckier than some.

           If I still have my house - It is better than none.

         If I still have my wits - There are mouths I can feed.

            If I still have my family - What more do I need?

          If I still have my health - I am mercifully blessed.

              If I think I have little - Someone has less.

                Every day I discover - More mercy in me.

          Every day I find out - Who my true friends will be.

          Every day that I stumble - Or say, "I can't do it!"

       Is a day I discover - With God's grace, I get through it.

            So I learn a new lesson - If I keep a new score

         That every day I have less - May be a day I have more.