I whine about gaining a few pounds...forgetting about those in my own county who don't know where their next meal will come from. Children on free lunches that sneak their orange juice into their back pack so they'll have something for dinner.
I complain that my husband doesn't do X, Y, or Z to suit me...forgetting that I'm complaining to a friend who's just been through a long and painful divorce.
...or the bloggy friend who lives daily with the cancer that inhabits her husband's body.
I worry about finances...only to have the thank you letters to the charities I support reference my "sacrificial" gift. Both letters made me cry. Those gifts didn't cost me anything, yet meant so much to the organizations they were sent to.
I stress about house work...not considering those who would love any form of shelter, even if it meant a stray hash brown crumb or two on the floor.
I get irritated at the chill of a house with the heat set on 60 degrees...when I know there are so many ways it could be worse. As a matter of fact its not a financial necessity that its set that low, just a choice we make to save money.
I am blessed far beyond what I know.
And for that, I am thankful.
We all have much to be thankful for, it's just a matter of looking for it the right places! You are indeed blessed!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Ann, we are all blessed. We have to be open to looking for the blessings and accepting them. For me sometimes it's hard to accept the blessing because I know someone else is needing it more.
ReplyDeleteI've been feeling like this often lately (sharply realizing what I have-and sometimes complain about- things that so many others go without). That awareness is kind of another blessing.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, Brooke, and so true. It's a matter of perspective.
ReplyDeleteVery good, very timely post! Thank you for the reminder of all of the reasons I have for being thankful!
ReplyDeletethere are so many things to be thankful for....i like this idea of reminding ourselves!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right in your observations. It is so easy to overlook what we have in search for what we want. At the end of the day we realize that nothing truly satisfies us unless we're content. Contentment comes from within not from external stuff. Thanks for the reminder to be grateful for what we have.
ReplyDeleteIt's really easy to start complaining, but you are right--There's a lot that we can be thankful for in our lives!
ReplyDeleteGee, thanks for making me cry! ;) I know what you mean, though. I have so much to be thankful for, too, yet I choose to dwell on the negative. Thank you for the sweet comment. I really appreciate your encouragement!
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to be thankful for - we just need to have the right attitude!
ReplyDeleteI am thankful too. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! A reminder I needed today, definitely. I'm getting way too whiny about really minor things lately.
ReplyDeletei love this post :)
ReplyDeletei needed to hear this.
ReplyDeletethank you.
I think this is true for all of us. More then we care to admit sometimes.... lol.
ReplyDeleteLovely post!
ReplyDelete