I think everyone is guilty of taking
what they have for granted. I know I am so guilty of this.
It's much easier to look at what we
don't have than at what we do.
All it takes for me to realize just how
blessed I am is to make a list of all that I have in my life. Let's
start with:
-Food
-Shelter
-Water
-Love [family, friends, business
supporters, church community]
-Job
-Car
-Clothes
-A cell phone
-A computer
-More shoes than what can fit on the
bottom of my closet
-Purses to match my outfits...
See? That only scratches the surface
and I've already been slapped in the face by how much I've been
blessed with.
I try to make a point of keeping the
excess in my life to a minimum. A constant battle in the
materialistic society we live in, but I do try. I frequently go
through my closet and remove anything that I don't need or love, or
doesn't have true sentimental value. This is one small way that I
give back to others, and in the process, streamline my life.
This winter, Matt and I decided to use
some of the blessings that my photography business has brought us and
give back. We were doing some Christmas shopping of our own at the
mall and we came across the giving trees. You know, the Christmas
trees with the gift tags on them, with information on someone who is
in need in the local community. We chose four tags from the three
trees.
The next day, we went to Target
together and carefully selected gifts for each tag. The tags are
anonymous for obvious reasons so I have no idea nor will I ever know
who these gifts are going to. But I kept thinking about the people
who will receive these gifts and I wondered about them. About their
lives. About what their Christmases will be like. What struggles they
face or have faced... It made me thankful for the organizations that
put together these giving trees so someone can have a better
Christmas.
As I wrapped up the gifts, I prayed for
the people who will get these gifts. For the kids that will play with
the legos we carefully chose. For the teenager who will use the
journal to process her thoughts, maybe writing songs or poems in a
personal literary escape. I prayed for a happy Christmas this year,
and for blessings in 2012.
As I taped up the edges of the wrapping
paper, I added to my list of things to be thankful for. The ability
to bless others because of the success I've found in my life. The
freedom to be able to make the decision to give. The option to give
locally, making a difference in the community that I live in.
Life is so full of blessings, all we
have to do is look.
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