Knowing YOU are Blessed-a Must-Read!
How quickly the months pass-spring, summer and then fall. The next thing we know we have just finished up celebrating Thanksgiving and now Christmas is everywhere we go. All over every city and small town in America we can stop on any given day and watch shoppers rushing out of the stores decorated with Christmas ornaments; and so starts the beginning of the holiday season. You can pass by most homes at night and see the twinkle of lights over front yards or a Christmas tree blinking quietly in a darkened window at night. We all seem to stop and pause at this time of year-looking back-reflecting on how we 'made it' despite the effects of the economy. It seems to just melt away some of the stresses and tension as we drive home and listen to Christmas carols playing on the radio or turn on the tv to watch classic Christmas movies.
We begin to really 'count our blessings' during this season. We may have scrimped and scraped to make 'ends meet'-stretching each penny from paycheck to paycheck-and worried how all the many bills we all have will get paid. BUT somehow--it seems now we 'made it'-the kids got fed, the rent got paid and we suddenly feel assured that the New Year will surely be even better! 2009 has been a rough year on America. But most of us do not know how resilient we are or can become until 'tough times' hit our own homes. We suddenly somehow miraculously gather almost a supernatural inner willpower-call it faith-call it whatever you want to--but we SURVIVE whatever life has thrown in our path-and came out feeling better for having went through the struggle. So what if the paycheck was smaller; OR if there was a company cutback or some problems there-you are still ALIVE and blessed. You may have had to change jobs, move or make major adjustments in your lifestyle due to the effect of cutting back--but somehow here at Christmas you feel like you can conquer anything! The fact is when life throws us a 'curveball'-we either give up or fight back. I believe deep inside we all when faced with things that 'shake us' - can awaken us to the possibilities we CAN get through whatever we're facing-no matter how hard or difficult!
Today I watched a man picking up cans on the side of the road. He was dressed shabbily, torn coat and trousers 2 sizes too big. I sat at a redlight and watched as he tediously walked up the road-bending down--examining each can-like it was a diamond in the rough; then he smiled as he dropped them into his torn garbage bag. He was a man on a mission. A mission to survive by collecting cans to make a few bucks-perhaps a meal. I watched as a passenger and some kids waved cans from the backseat out the window. He rushed over the car and held out his bag-his face lit up like kid at Christmas-as the kids dropped their cans into the bag. He nodded and then rushed back to the roadside-smiling and waving at these kids.
I blinked and thought to myself--this IS this mans life. I wondered where he lived-under the streets probably or railroad tracks.
Most of all I thought to myself....
I am SO blessed!!
I had just temporarily 'forgotten' how much!
So are you-if you aren't collecting cans-
start counting YOUR blessings today this moment.
I promise you -
you WILL find many no matter what they are!
"We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are."
~Anais Nin~