I had a wonderful conversation today with my co-workers about “being thankful”. As we mulled over our complaints about everyday things we began to talk about the disparity that some people face each day of their lives. These people are not too far removed from us.
I recalled a story that I saw on television about a small poor village in another country that had to survive from the discarded food from local restaurants for food. One man and his family actually started a business rummaging for the food, cleaning it up, adding seasonings and making a highly popular soup that the locals would buy as their one meal for the day. They took the little resources that they had to use and not only started a business but provided a way to help others survive.. . literally.
One co-worker told us a story about a place in her native country of El Salvador where the older people whose family didn’t want them or have any means of taking care of them would drop them off and just leave them. Thankfully, a woman and her young son began to take care of the elderly people left there by feeding them with whatever they had to offer. My friend’s family visits their native country once a year and always goes shopping for the shelter. The caregiver is always so overwhelmed with happiness to have chicken to fix the people. It was like having a feast!
As we all became a little somber of the visual of people struggling to survive the necessity of living we all said that we needed to do a better job of being thankful for all that we had. I recalled in my own life that I never had a lot of money, just enough to pay my bills, but yet I have never went to bed hungry, I never had to sleep in the cold and my health (although not the best) is still better than some. I had to stop for a moment to get myself together after thinking about this.
I need to be more thankful! We all do. Just look over your life and take a serious look at your blessings. It may not be the life that you want right now, but you have a chance to make it better. God is forever blessing us and we need to be thankful just for the little things that someone, somewhere wish they had.
The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa
Amen Lisa. I have been so discouraged financially lately but God has given me the opportunity several times
to bless others in small ways that I could…what a reminder that even when we feel lacking, God sends reminders of how rich we are!
Yes Jenny so true! When we got finished our conversation yesterday we just sat there in silence thanking God for every provision. God is good!