Gratitude

There were beautiful flowers with gorgeous buds, but I missed them totally
as I concentrated on the thorns.

There were incredible rainbows, but it was as if I were blind because I
couldn’t see them as I frowned about the rain.

There was a roof over my head and food on the table, but instead of
appreciation I just worried about paying the bills.

There were people in need and I didn’t notice them, instead I worried about
petty, minor details of life.

There was a time that I was quite healthy, but I missed it’s importance as
I stayed caught up in the rat race of life.

I have experienced love, kindness and joy, but I never stopped to be
thankful for them, I instead took them for granted.

I have experienced parenthood, with all its ups and downs, but I never
stopped to fully realize these were gifts not given to everyone.

I have experienced occasional intense physical pain, but I never considered
the people that live with pain every moment of their lives.

There are people dying at this moment that would trade places with my
abilities and my health in a split second.

Maybe I am finally learning that life does get hard, but when it does you
just put one foot in front of the other and go on anyway.

And today I will notice the flowers, the rainbows, the children, my
painlessness, my home and food, and be sure not to complain about my health.

by: Debbie M. Wilson
7-27-96