Blessings

As I sit here and think about all the blessings God bestows on us daily, I realize a lot of us don't even know what a blessing is when we do receive one. We just take them for granted. We say things like "good karma" or "county my lucky stars" or something similar. This past week, I have received many blessings in small ways. Yet each one was a shot in the arm that filled me up and made me thankful for what the Lord has done for me. 

I thank Him daily for so many things we so often take for granted.... 

A loving family to support us when so many in the world are all alone with no one to care about them. I have so many friends that I can really truly call friends. Those who are there for me when I need them. 

A comfortable home with a bed to lay our head down at night when many will be laying on the cold ground with a piece of clothing wadded up for a pillow

We whine when we can't decide what's for dinner because there are SO MANY choices in our pantry while an old man stands alone in an old alley digging through rubbish for some scrap of food to appease the gnawing hunger he lives with every day.

We fuss at our kids for being so rowdy when a little girl is huddled in a corner trying to be quiet while her mommy drowns her sorrow in a bottle. 

We give a quick hug or kiss to a loved one without even thinking about it while there are those who haven't felt a kind touch or a friendly smile in years.

Do we really realize how blessed we are? Do we reach out to others to ease their pain or share their load? Or do we simply put a few pennies in a donation plate somewhere and assume somebody else will take care of them. 

If I could, I would gather all the lonely, the brokenhearted, the homeless, the unloved and gather them in my arms with a great big hug and tell them I care.