can you be thankful? generous?

If you ever have a day when you are hard pressed to find some a reason to look at the blessings in your life, you need to consider things that we all take for granted. There was a recent blog that mentioned such mudane common items as fresh, potable water that we use to flush our bodily functions with. And, laugh if you must: the joy of toilet paper...

Think about how many places in the world are desperate for the stuff we throw away and would gladly take things we discard like water to cook with and drink: so many are without or have to walk miles to find, and trudge those same miles to return to their families, carrying liquid that weighs eight pounds per gallon.

Do you have a stove that comes on in an instant, as opposed to walking for miles to find firewood to haul back to a small handmade structure where you cook on an open fire to feed your hungry children?

Are you wearing clothing that suits your preference and weather conditions instead of nothing, or cast-off ill-fitting donations from foreigners who think they are being generous by sending used shoes and worn out jeans.

Do you have a warm, dry, safe place to spend the night, where you do not have to worry about the safety and well-being of your children? Abed in a place that is relatively clean, with temperature controls, where you walk down the hall and adjust to 'warmer' or 'cooler' at your convenience? Ever thought about life in a refugee camp, living under a tarp, or out in the open, dependent on the goodwill and mercy of total strangers to provide the next meal, clothing, water for your hungry, thirsty children?

We are all so caught up in a society that has so much, seeing unnecessary stuff advertised in the media, produced by huge, well-funded corporations: promoting the Next Best Ever, that we Need To Own.

Think about what's Really Important and Be Thankful.

Remember that quote about griping about ill-fitting shoes and then seeing a man with none: I recently saw a guy with only one foot, sitting on the tail gate of a pick-up truck, man-handling a wheel chair, trying to get it on the pavement so he could get around.

Kinda puts complaining about having to walk, (heaven forbid - not finding a parking slot near the entrance to the store that has everything you need and pulling out a plastic card to pay for your goods) or not having the newest, best shoes in perspective.