Granted

We are granted so many wishes in life that we often take for granted. Think about your car. Before you had a car, it's probably all you wanted. Yearning for the autonomy and freedom of having your own car. But now, years later, are you thankful every time you get behind the wheel that you are blessed to be able to do so? When your car breaks do you still think about how fortunate you are to have a car? Think about the food in your refrigerator (and the fact you have a refrigerator). Thinking on a worldly level, a stocked fridge isn't as common as it is in America. Readily available food may not be a wish of yours because you've never been without, but if you have it, you've been granted a wish that many people are still wishing. When you're out of food, are you frustrated that you have to go to the grocery store, or are you thankful that you are able to go to the grocery store?

I know that in my case, I am often frustrated with my car or dreading my trip to the grocery store. What got me thinking about all this taking-for-granted was my baby crying out for me and my feeders in the middle of my REM sleep. I lay there feeling sorry for myself that I had to get up in the middle of the night to feed my baby. But then it hit me. I have a baby. I am blessed beyond measure. I have a beautiful marriage that produced a beautiful, healthy daughter. How lame am I to feel sorry for myself when I should be thankful in the middle of the night that I have a daughter to feed!? Don't get me wrong, I know how blessed I am, and I am daily thankful. When she's smiling at me and sweetly looking into my eyes, it's easy to be thankful. But when she's looking into my tired eyes and crying at 4 a.m., it can take a little more effort to remember to be thankful.

So next time I'm frustrated, I'm going to step back and look for something to be thankful for in the situation. That's probably a much happier way to live :)