Friday, November 12, 2010

Too Blessed to be Stressed

I'm not going to lie... I had one of those weeks this week.  You know... the kind where you just feel like you're about to break out in to tears all of the time.  And, to be honest, I did on several occasions.  But, as I sit here tonight on my couch, I'm seeing things differently. 

When I got home today, I grabbed the mail.  In that stack of catalogs, doctor bills and household bills I had a catalog from a company called World Vision.  For those of you who haven't heard of them, they're amazing.  Our family sponsors a little girl in Africa named Wanzia.  And we hear from her every month and get updates on her regularly.  Anyway, I toss the catalog on the table and make a note to myself that I'll take a look at it after I get the boys to bed.

And, I do...  Wow.  I am completely ashamed of the "Woe as me" attitude I've had these last few days.  This catalog shows ways to help these needy families all over the world.  For example, I can purchase a goat for a family and provide daily food for them... milk, cheese, etc.  For only $75.  I mean, really change someone's life for that amount of money.  It just floored me... they  just have opportunity after opportunity to help these poor people out for small amounts of cash... buy them a cow, or chickens or Bibles.

I guess what I want to say sounds kind of cliche', but we really are blessed.  Even when things are bad, we're still blessed.  I don't have to worry about where my next meal is coming from, if I'll have a comfortable place to sleep at night, or if I'll be able to keep mosquitos carrying malaria off of my children.  Yeah, things have been bumpy for the Smyder family this past year, but we've got nothing on those that really experience true suffering daily.

Thank you Lord for all you've given me.  Please forgive my unthankful and listless attitude at times.  God is good and life is good.  Appreciate it.  Enjoy it.