Being Grateful For the Small Things

The more I live the more I reflect on the lessons my mother taught me as a child. What I mean is that when I was a child my mother taught me the true art of benevolence. My mother never met a stranger, and no living thing was ever in her presence hungry.

I recall when I was in the first grade it was around the time the famine in Africa became a world wide concern. It also concerned me. I came home one day and in my childlike way I was going to save the hungry children in Africa. I emptied out our pantry and was going to take everything I could to school the next day. What I really love my mother for, was that she didn't scold me or discourage me from giving, she just helped me understand that if I gave away all that we had then we too would be hungry.

That is when I found out that I truly had a heart for other people. I would want to give away all my clothes to children that were ragged or dirty or just seemed to not have as much as I had. You see I was truly fortunate. My mother was a single parent, but God always took great care of our family. I wore the best clothes. We ate the best food. My mother drove the finest cars. I never knew the sting of poverty. If we had any lean times I never knew because my mother never missed a beat.

As I look around now and I see numerous people losing their jobs, homes, and their minds I have to be grateful. I empathize for those that are feeling the affect of the economy, however in the same breath I have to express my gratitude. You see just when I thought my situation was bad I had to walk a mile in the shoes of my brothers and sisters that the worst is happening to. We all could stand to do the same. I am such a tenderhearted person to the plight of the poor that I can't drive down the street and see a homeless person and not have tears well up in my eyes. I wish I could gather all that I see and put them in a nice house with clean clothes, nourishing food, warm beds, and peace of mind.

I couldn't fathom having to wonder where my next meal was coming from or where I was going to sleep and God forbid not being able to take a bath when I wanted. The ironic thing about my experience volunteering to serve homeless people is that some of them have such a tenacious spirit. They haven't lost their hope that a better day is coming. That is why those of us who have been richly blessed have to keep a spirit of humility and thankfulness. To be honest all it would take for a lot of individuals is to have one catastrophic financial situation happen and they would be homeless as well. What I encourage individuals to do when they get annoyed or disgusted at the sight and smell of a homeless person is to imagine themselves in that same predicament. I guarantee you once you think of how humiliating, stressful, and soul crushing it must be to be homeless you will remember that is a person on the other end of that dollar you are giving away.