Counting my blessings

I find it so easy to get swept up in the day and never really pause to realize how truly blessed we are. This morning we had a chapel at school with three speakers talking about their experiences in Africa and the poverty and hardship they witnessed. One is prepared to adopt two little boys from Africa. We were challenged to make that difference, to see the impact that we can make even if it is just on one person, to face what real hunger looks like--not just a little rumble in our tummy. And yet even after that chapel, I went about my day without feeling the weight of the words--without counting my blessings and realizing how truly blessed I am to have the life I have--with an abundance of food, good health and shelter. I was short with my kids and feeling quite pregnant and tired.

It took my 3 year old's words of wisdom as she spoke of how beautiful everything was on our walk--the true joy I saw in her eyes and smile from a simple walk with her mama--to take the time to sit down on the path (she was tired) and appreciate the beauty of God's creation.

And then I left the path and re-entered my world of overabundance and returned to my cranky self. It was only this evening as I was reading the blog of a 20 year old girl serving in Uganda that is so sure of herself and her faith as she described her days ministering to the poor that I truly stopped for some introspection.

I encourage you to check out her blog www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. It is listed to the right as The Journey. But the entry that caused me to really pause and appreciate my family and what we have is http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/2009/08/be-warned-i-always-re-read-things.html

To be able to visualize the number of kids out there with no parents who love them and nothing to eat is heartbreaking. It made me go in and hug my kids that much harder. Sure they whine and can be stubborn and don't listen, but they are mine to love all the more and I wouldn't trade them for the world.