If I have said it before I will say it again—-I lead a charmed life. I really do. But it has not come without a few bumps in the road along the way. I choose to move on from those and not dwell on them which has worked out well for me. I like the way I feel when I do not think about the negative things that have happened in the past.
Then a week hits that reminds me what kind of world we live in. A world that has a lot of sadness and challenges. A world that offers up unfair things to people who do not deserve unfair things happening to them.
Take the shocking death of a 16 year old Boy Scout in North Carolina. While I did not know him I did know his foster parents and the troop he was a part of was associated with the United Methodist Church that I worked in for 5 years. He was with the troop hiking in the mountains and fell and the entire community is in shock of mourning the death of this young man who lost his life far too soon. I can not even begin to imagine what those who are close to him are feeling at this point when I, who did not even know him, have a huge ache in my heart for a boy whose life was ended far too early.
I also volunteered at the local Community Kitchen for a morning. It is similar to ones in almost every town these days—-folks can go get a hot meal at lunch and now ours is also offering dinner several nights a week. These are the elderly and the disenfranchised, the unemployed and the disabled, the mentally ill and the folks who are just down on their luck. All were appreciative. All were polite. That is not always the case but for this day it was and it reminded me that I have a full refrigerator full of healthy food that I can cook easily. I have a full belly and a roof over my head. I live in the lap of luxury while some of the folks I served today can not scrape together enough to buy one bag of groceries let alone have a full pantry and refrigerator.
There is injustice in the world, isn’t there? Just because you are a “nice person” it does not mean that life is easy. Trials come and go and hopefully we learn from them. Today I am just a tad more appreciative of what I have and of the relationships that I have in my life with people who I really care about. There is no substitute for that and I am grateful. What are you grateful for today?
Great post beth ann… I know I get so caught up in the day to day that I forget to appreciate all I have….
Thanks, Hilary. I think we all get caught up in the day to day stuff—I have to really make the decision daily to see the positive and strive for that instead of the negative.
Family, friends, faith, home…
More specifically, for the successful surgery on Wednesday for my friend diagnosed with breast cancer.
Great things, Audrey—will keep your friend in my prayers.
Amen, Beth. This is not a perfect world. If we do not acknowledge there is injustice, we can never even attempt to fix it.
Very good point, McGuffy Ann. Injustice is everywhere. Some we can address, some we can’t but it is important to recognize it and accept it and do what we can when we can.
one of my favourite verses is in Ecclesiastes 9:11….where it talks about “time and chance” happening to us all. It’s a great reminder that we will have trials – even us “nice” or “good” people. That mankind will be ensnared in evil. So appreciate the good things in life that you do have. Don’t squander your “time and chance”.
Oh fabulous reminder of what I needed to be reminded of!!! Thank you so much!!! I love it!!!
Amen, Beth Ann.
Thanks, Lenore!!!
I will stop preaching now!
AMEN! You did a great job on this post! Each Sunday Pastor Lee Ann ask us what God has done for us this week or for “God sightings”. Since I have a tendency to be a “glass half empty” kinda gal, it really got me thinking how fortunate I am. My answer to her question is
“everything and everywhere,” at our house we call it LIFE….from the everyday stuff, to the major things…I have been blessed. I cannot imagine how anyone gets through life without having faith and God walking beside them. My heart breaks for those who don’t “get it” and those who struggle on a daily basis with the life stuff and don’t have the support they need or the faith to lean on. A sign of our times…so many people hurting in so many ways.
I totally agree with you—I don’t know how people can get through their life stuff without knowing that there is a God who loves them unconditionally and will always be there during good times AND bad times. We are blessed, indeed, to understand that truth.
I am grateful to have a roof over my head & food to eat while others do not. I am grateful I can write again & my audience (small as it is) appreciates my work.
I am grateful for those things, too!!! And love your writing !
You know Beth Ann, I am a blue-collar working guy, (I typo’d gut, both of which are true) I have worked since I was about 15 years old, younger, if you count babysitting.(That’s a lot of years BTW.) But, I still don’t have what the so-called “wealthy” people have….Or do I now? For there are those who would consider me very wealthy, because of what I DO have. Now, I have found that there are ALWAYS those who have more than me, and ALWAYS those who have less. But, I am ALWAYS more grateful for what I am, than what I have, because I know that somewhere there is someone who would love to be me.. Do you know what I mean? Your post today was obviously thought provoking, to say the least.
I know exactly what you mean! While I never thought of my life as enviable I am sure it is to others who do not have all that I have. My greatest blessings are my family and friends–no amount of money can buy relationships of that caliber. Thanks for your thoughtful comments today!
You mean ramblings don’t you. But hey, fifty cents is fifty cents..lol
Cha Ching!
Isn’t that the truth! I’m grateful for a lot of things, not the least of which is blogging buddies like you, Beth Ann. Hugs to you, my dear!
Kathy
Thanks, Kathy! I know that not everyone has the ability to rise above certain situations but you are certainly one who has been able to not only rise but to soar above what life has dealt you at times. That is indeed a huge blessing!
I am thankful the jet noise I hear almost daily is “friendly.”
Wow–that is a very good thing to be thankful for!!!