I met a lovely woman at Chicos this week...she was in town on business and forgot all her nice hanging clothes...so she had to buy a weeks worth of stuff from Chicos....Now I can't even imagine having hundreds to spend on clothes...just off the cuff and spurr of the moment, completely unexpected and unbudgeted...but that was apparently not a problem for her...she seemed to have dollars to blow and diamonds the size of marbles on her fingers...during the course of the evening (and it took all evening...) I learned of a few things she does not have...
1)a mother in law (she died this past year)
2)a father(he died this past year)
3)a healthy mother (she had a serious car accident this year)
4)a sister with security (she lost everything in Katrina)
5)a healthy child (her 11 yr old is autistic)
6)her health (surgery on both feet coming up in a couple of weeks)
7)a home or possessions(hers burned in this past year)
It really helps to put things into perspective...after all it really is just the normal course of mankind....
Job 14:1 Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.
Thankfully He also included this in scripture so that we wouldn't jump off bridges or anything....
Psa 34:19 Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Lord I have SO much to be thankful for! Your deliverance surounds me again and again!
14 comments:
This really is a good reminder to me. I admit sometimes looking at someone that is obviously "wealthy" and thinking their life is easier because of it...how shallow of me. I am thankful for my imperfect but blessed life. Thank YOU for this post!
Can you imagine her life? I'd work and travel too. We do seem to be more thankful when comparing with others, less thankful when things are going well. Our thankfulness should not be fluid with the circumstances of our life - it should be a daily thing if for nothing more than waking up. Glad you got to spend some time with her - you never know what she might have walked away with!
I was thinking of all the 'nuggets' that you may have placed in her brain as you conversed....may those seeds grow and multiply! --and may she know the God Who delivers!!
You're absolutely right. Just when I'm really feeling sorry for myself, I discover someone who's dealing with more than I've ever had to deal with. It's amazing how many people I find right here in Bloggityville who have far worse circumstances. This puts it in the right perspective. That poor woman. I'll bet she'd willingly give up the money and the jewels to have her loved ones back and a healthy child.
Not knowing someone's life until you walk a mile in their shoes. How many times a day, week, or month do we think, "If only I had what they had?" ... but sometimes it's the "what else" that they have we don't get to see. My "what else" has been a critically ill child at birth and all the trials and struggles that followed. I'm thankful and very hopeful that that is behind me ... and I'm only able to look forward.
Mrs. Mac
I have been young and I have been old, but I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their seed begging for bread. Proverbs, somewhere!
ahhh great post! How true. Makes my van problem look very itty bitty in scheme of things!
I try to remember that too. Somehow I don't think my wife gets it yet, but there are so many things we have that others can't even begin to touch. Just living in this country is a damn lucky stroke. Living in a home with two wonderful children, a well paying job and family that loves us. That sounds pretty nice.
From my experience, those that do have money may have it "easier" as far as just not having to worry about it. A lot of them seem very lonely and sad though.
It seems though that there are many other areas the Lord works at in their lives.
My heart really goes out to that women, it makes my life look like a "cake walk."
I agree, looking at someone else's situation and how hard some people really have it, really makes me realize how blessed we are to have the church.
Deborah
I like how you put this all in perspective!!
Great Post!!
:-D
There is a beautiful attitude of thankfulness running though the blogs that I frequent. A gentle reminder to stop and acknowledge all of our blessings and to pray for those who are not as fortunate.
This is a great post to put it all into perspective - thank you!
God's thumbprints....bringing his scripture to life before your very eyes...in human form...it amazes me when God does this....it reminds me of the scripture about "entertaining angels". I thought of you this morning when I read another Bible study that suggested I make time "first thing every morning" to meet with God...email forthcoming!
this is such a beautiful post. and a lesson to me as i realized how much time and heart you must have invested in this stranger to learn so much. thanks.
"Thankfully He also included this in scripture so that we wouldn't jump off bridges or anything...."
YES!!!!! how thankful i am!!!
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