wHAT are blessings?
I have plenty of time to think about my life -- where it is and where it is going. At times in our life, when we think everything is bad, sometimes it is because of our own selfishness. Now this part of the post does not have nothing to do with my current life but reflections of the past. I say this because some people read or hear me say something sometimes and think I'm in the dumps. But when those times come in our life, what do we take for granted? I thought of today as I have several times, when I look into the eyes of my niece and nephew, look how healthy they are. Is our health not a blessing? What about those who have children born with handicaps or diseases? Are we appreciative for the health of our own selves and the ones that we love? Then I think of those who have lost their children and how hard and hurtful the time must be. I think about those who have cancer and are in constant pain. I think of those who suffer from such as alzheimer's and are deeply aware of it and how frustrating it can be for them and their families. How about those who have sons and daughters serving abroad, fighting for our very livelihood? What about when we complain about the financial quality of our lives and then there are those who have none? We worry what cut of steak we are going to get and they worry if they can even scrap enough crumbs to eat or are happy with their beans and rice. We worry about the clothes we wear and the latest fashions and they are content to wear worn and dirty. We worry about what toy or game our kids should have next and their kids are content with kicking around an empty 2-liter bottle.
We will never understand stand how truly blessed we are until we are content with what we have. In the likewise, how can we expected to be blessed if we cannot be content? Missions: it is not about personal feelings, our way, our money or any of our things. It is about Jesus Christ and a world starved for His Word, for His Love, for His Peace. I do not live an extravagant life in Mexico and do not have very much but I am blessed on every side. Sure I wish my budget was better and I wish I were able to put money in the bank for my return someday to the States but with what little I have God has made more (it was His in the start anyway). Thank God today for your life and all He has given you.
Comments
What a powerful message!!! The part about people having children with handicaps struck a chord with me. My brother David was born with cerebral palsy. The care that he needed was tremendous. He was legally blind and could neither walk nor talk. For the first 10 years of his life he underwent painful physical therapy. Then there were trips 5 hours away to Jackson,MS to be fitted for his wheelchairs. These trips were really physically draining for David as well as for my parents. After the therapy ended my mother took David every day to a school for the handicapped at Northeast Community College in Booneville,MS. This drive was around 35/40 minutes or so from where we live. She took him there every morning and came back home and then that evening went back to get him. She wanted to stay there with him but the school did not allow the parents to stay. David went to that school for about 5 years. My mother's favorite verse was 2nd Timothy 1:12. She quoted that verse to David so many times. In 1999 when David was 16 God took him Home. In 2003 Momma was called Home. The reason I wanted to tell this is because my parents could have blamed God for David not being born "perfect". They told everyone who would listen that they felt honored and blessed that God trusted them to take care of one of His special children. They were asked many times how did they deal with the "burden" of caring for David. Those careless remarks hurt them deeply. My parents asked those people how could a child from God ever be considered a burden? We wish our kids would be quite...be thankful they can talk. Or that they would stop getting into everything...be thankful they can walk to make messes and see to make them. We have so many blessings from God that we take for granted. I am glad I read your post because it made me really think about the things I take for granted in my life.
Posted by: Karen | January 21, 2007 04:40 PM
Karen, thanks for the comment and it speaks just as loud for me. We sometimes get caught up in life and forget to say "thanks, God".
Posted by: antonio | January 21, 2007 05:43 PM