COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.

Today is February second. I am wanting spring. Flowers, budding trees. I want warmth. Twice in the last month we have had water pipe trouble because of the cold weather. I know my husband has had enough since he is the one who has to deal with the mess.

I was grumbling to myself this evening about our ill fate. Why us I thought as I snuggled down in my warm recliner and watched our Television. Might I add the 42 inch my husband bought months ago in hope I could see it better. He was only able to buy it because of a little win he had at the casino. But anyway me in my warm sweater, socks, soft chair sat mumbling about our bad luck. Broken pipes. high water bill. The news come on. They were interviewing a man here in Joplin that is living in this rough weather in a tent. I felt about two inches tall.

A few weeks ago we had weather that dipped below zero degrees and that is not wind chill, that is actual degrees. Shame on me. One little bump in our road and we are wailing. Its easy to be wrapped warm in our homes and talk about how sad there are people living out in this. We tend to sort of shove it to the back of our minds. Or use the excuse only lazy people become homeless. But that is simply not true. There are many mentally ill on the streets. Many people who live from paycheck to paycheck, barely keeping their rent paid. Then they lose their jobs and in weeks they are out on the street.

We complain of our lack of money. About the slights we feel are given to us. Our lack of apprection from those around us. Then you hear a man say,"It sure is rough out here in this tent. I lost my job. I cannot find another." I don't think many of us mean to be whiners but we are. We tend to be quick to cry out when things don't go right to God,"Oh please God send me this, help me with this." How many times a day do we just say "Thank-you, I have a warm bed, I have food." All the blessings we take for granted.

There was a old song we use to sing in the church Mom took us to as kids. "Count your blessings, Name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done." Tonight when I go to bed I will say thank-you God for all my blessings. Just remember circumstances can change. Count your blessings. in a flash, everything we know can be gone. Our Life's can change in a heartbeat. Count your blessings.