EXTREME TROUBLE

Okay, I admit it. On several occasions, I have watched the TV show Extreme Home Makeover. If you didn't include my thumbs, you could probably count the number of times on both hands. But I have watched it. And I've cried like a baby at the sad stories and the happy ending of the episode.

For those of you who haven't seen the show, the premise is that some family has written to the ABC network and nominated themselves, or someone they know, to show the horrible living conditions they must live in, and hope to have their home rebuilt to make their life better. They usually have multiple meanings, in that it's a special needs family and the special needs child is living in a bad-for-their-health home...or a widow is raising her 4 children plus the 6 children from her recently deceased brother...or the old woman who feeds all the kids in the neighborhood working out of a kitchen with a hot plate.

Then a team of designers come in, gather a bunch of community volunteers and business leaders. Building supplies, furniture, and appliances are donated. The family is sent out of town to a luxury vacation for a week, and in the week they are gone, the old house is demolished and a new one, with all kinds of bells-and-whistles is built in its place. The family comes back a week later and they unveil the new house to them while tears flow and people jump up and down and say OMG!

What the show doesn't tell...is what happens after the TV lights go out, and the volunteers go away and reality sets in. Someone has to mow the new lawn and trim the new bushes. Electricity, heating and water bills for the new 4000 sq. ft. home needs to be paid. Billy still needs braces. And on and on.

Well, this article addresses that a number of these families have run into troubles after the new home is built and everyone has gone away.

Surely, not every family has had problems afterwards. Some have probably continued to be a blessing to their family and their community.

But, I'm reminded of the old saying...there is no free lunch.

Some people can't handle new found fame or success. If your priorities aren't right, you can be made up all you want, but in the end, it's still you when the make-up wears off.


Dan