I am thankful for blessings each and every day in each and every thing.
There are people all over the world that are hungry, lonely, abused, alone, oppressed, perhaps covered in flies and too weak to move. Some are sleeping without dwellings in the crisp air that I sense through my window. The only thing separating us? Where I was born. Circumstance. Much beyond any one person's control.
I am so so so blessed, more and more every day. And I pray and I vow that I will never forget - nay, never take for granted - where I come from, where I could have been, and how fortunate I am now.
My day is incomplete without a nice, long, hot shower. I once took cold showers for a year.
My pantry and stomach are both full, though I remember a time that a pack of hotdogs, a box of ramen, and a $0.97 loaf of nutrient-free bread was groceries...for two weeks.
If my gas tank is ever close to empty, it's likely due to laziness or lack of attention. I remember a time my gas gauge never saw halfway and I'll never forget the first time I drove to work for a week on fumes. Or the first time I filled up with a check a day (or two) before payday, praying my paycheck made it to the bank before that check did.
I hire and fire people, but I remember being that person calling week after week. And even though I knew they were probably tired of hearing from me, the roof over my head depended on the result of my job hunt.
I am blessed with a washer and dryer and a week's worth of clothes or more, when I remember owning two pairs of pants and no means to wash them besides the (cold) shower because the bathroom sink was broke.
I am blessed with four or five jackets when I used to rely on the sweater I found. I just bought inserts for my shoes since my feet often hurt. I remember when I couldn't afford shoes at all.
When I need things, I go and I get them. Once and only once I stole a roll of toilet paper from a public restroom because I didn't have $0.97 to buy it myself. Because then I'd have to put my loaf of bread back.
I am blessed with brethren and friends and family and people who care, when once we had nobody.
Once I had nothing and now I have more than enough and enough to share.
I can't change where I've been, nor would I even if I could. Those times taught me faith. Those experiences allow me to be perfectly happy with what I have in a world full of complainers. What I've experienced taught me humility, compassion, gratitude, joy, appreciation, love. It taught me to HALALUYAH.
