Action In Waiting
C. F. Blumhardt
For those who listen for Christ`s coming, a knock sounds over and over again. The things that come forth are not necessarily highly spiritual. Sometimes they are very simple. For instance, we may be told, "Don`t neglect your body. Don`t you know it is a temple of the Spirit?" (1 Cor 3:16) Or we may be asked, "Why do you drink so much wine? Why do you eat so much food?" Such matters seem contemptibly small. Yet whoever is wise will open the door when God`s messengers speak. And whoever is wise will act on what he or she hears, and do so joyfully and confidently.
C. F. Blumhardt
For those who listen for Christ`s coming, a knock sounds over and over again. The things that come forth are not necessarily highly spiritual. Sometimes they are very simple. For instance, we may be told, "Don`t neglect your body. Don`t you know it is a temple of the Spirit?" (1 Cor 3:16) Or we may be asked, "Why do you drink so much wine? Why do you eat so much food?" Such matters seem contemptibly small. Yet whoever is wise will open the door when God`s messengers speak. And whoever is wise will act on what he or she hears, and do so joyfully and confidently.
When You Give
Christopher Morley
When you give someone a book, you don`t give him/her just paper, ink, and glue. You give him/her the possibility of a whole new life.
Christopher Morley
When you give someone a book, you don`t give him/her just paper, ink, and glue. You give him/her the possibility of a whole new life.
True Freedom
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk dispair, and to try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live. Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave. He has forefeited his freedom. Only the person who risks is truly free.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk dispair, and to try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live. Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave. He has forefeited his freedom. Only the person who risks is truly free.
The Lesson of the Homeless Man
(Unknown Author)
It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked in the church.
As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out.
I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.
We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me.
A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened.
In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down.
People gasped and whispered and made faces.
He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank.
There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man."
No one said a word.
The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand.
"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today. If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
(Unknown Author)
It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked in the church.
As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out.
I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.
We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me.
A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened.
In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down.
People gasped and whispered and made faces.
He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank.
There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man."
No one said a word.
The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand.
"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today. If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
Free Yourself
Albert Einstein
A human being is a part of the whole that we call the universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. This illusion is a prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for only the few people nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature.
Albert Einstein
A human being is a part of the whole that we call the universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. This illusion is a prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for only the few people nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature.
Dapat Melihat
Telepon dua kali berdering. Jam 05.30 WIB. Masih gelap rasanya. Tangan kecil Moses memegang erat tanganku. Dia tertidur pulas.
Aku harus bangun. Harus misa. Itulah janjiku. Pasti Hani, iparku, yang menelepon. Dia berjanji menelepon untuk membangunkan aku. Harusnya Moses dan Jeny, adikku, juga ikut misa denganku hari ini. Tapi, kayaknya mereka terlalu mengantuk untuk membuka mata. Meski aku sudah mengiming-imingi Moses dengan permen. Sepertinya aku harus ke gereja sendirian.
Ada sms dari Meby, Rens, dan my little Ben. Telepon kembali kring saat aku mau keluar rumah. Hani lagi. Thanks Hani.
Misa sudah mulai sekitar lima menit saat aku sampai. Injil hari ini Lukas 18:35-43.
Waktu Yesus hampir tiba di Yerikho, ada seorang buta yang duduk di pinggir jalan dan mengemis. Waktu orang itu mendengar orang banyak lewat, ia bertanya: "Apa itu?" Kata orang kepadanya: "Yesus orang Nazaret lewat."
Lalu ia berseru: "Yesus, Anak Daud, kasihanilah aku!" Maka mereka, yang berjalan di depan, menegur dia supaya ia diam. Namun semakin keras ia berseru: "Anak Daud, kasihanilah aku!"
Lalu Yesus berhenti dan menyuruh membawa orang itu kepada-Nya. Dan ketika ia telah berada di dekat-Nya, Yesus bertanya kepadanya: "Apa yang kaukehendaki supaya Aku perbuat bagimu?" Jawab orang itu: "Tuhan, supaya aku dapat melihat!"
Lalu kata Yesus kepadanya: "Melihatlah engkau, imanmu telah menyelamatkan engkau!" Dan seketika itu juga melihatlah ia, lalu mengikuti Dia sambil memuliakan Allah. Seluruh rakyat melihat hal itu dan memuji-muji Allah.
Aku balik ke rumah dengan happy. Moses sedang menggambar dan berjanji mendoakanku. Mamaku menelepon. Kakakku mengirim sms. Dan, keluarga sakinah datang. Di luar ramai sekali. Ada topeng monyet. Moses yang duduk paling depan. Nama monyetnya Gambul. Sahabat kecil gue, David Helaha, juga datang. Lisa dan Mery sudah jauh-jauh hari janjian makan bareng setelah Lebaran.
Di kantor, Ocid datang membawa kue Lebaran dan kacang goreng buatan Yeni, istrinya, dan Ibunya. Krope datang bawa kacang goreng lagi. Ais juga bawa kue. Begitu banyak makanan hari ini. Di rumahku ada kue oen bek koek bantat [kocokan gula dan menteganya kurang lama he he], ada roti, ada permen, dan sebentar lagi pasti ada macam-macam kue dan makanan dari Tante Tuti yang Lebaran. Semuanya enak tapi aku belum mau makan banyak. Resolusi gemuknya nanti pas ujung Desember saja :)
Ini masih seperempat hari. Entah apa yang terjadi beberapa menit ke depan. Dan, seperti orang buta di Injil Lukas tadi, "Yesus bertanya padaku: "Apa yang kaukehendaki supaya aku perbuat bagimu di hari ulang tahunmu yang ke-32?" Jawabku, "Tuhan supaya aku dapat melihat."
Telepon dua kali berdering. Jam 05.30 WIB. Masih gelap rasanya. Tangan kecil Moses memegang erat tanganku. Dia tertidur pulas.
Aku harus bangun. Harus misa. Itulah janjiku. Pasti Hani, iparku, yang menelepon. Dia berjanji menelepon untuk membangunkan aku. Harusnya Moses dan Jeny, adikku, juga ikut misa denganku hari ini. Tapi, kayaknya mereka terlalu mengantuk untuk membuka mata. Meski aku sudah mengiming-imingi Moses dengan permen. Sepertinya aku harus ke gereja sendirian.
Ada sms dari Meby, Rens, dan my little Ben. Telepon kembali kring saat aku mau keluar rumah. Hani lagi. Thanks Hani.
Misa sudah mulai sekitar lima menit saat aku sampai. Injil hari ini Lukas 18:35-43.
Waktu Yesus hampir tiba di Yerikho, ada seorang buta yang duduk di pinggir jalan dan mengemis. Waktu orang itu mendengar orang banyak lewat, ia bertanya: "Apa itu?" Kata orang kepadanya: "Yesus orang Nazaret lewat."
Lalu ia berseru: "Yesus, Anak Daud, kasihanilah aku!" Maka mereka, yang berjalan di depan, menegur dia supaya ia diam. Namun semakin keras ia berseru: "Anak Daud, kasihanilah aku!"
Lalu Yesus berhenti dan menyuruh membawa orang itu kepada-Nya. Dan ketika ia telah berada di dekat-Nya, Yesus bertanya kepadanya: "Apa yang kaukehendaki supaya Aku perbuat bagimu?" Jawab orang itu: "Tuhan, supaya aku dapat melihat!"
Lalu kata Yesus kepadanya: "Melihatlah engkau, imanmu telah menyelamatkan engkau!" Dan seketika itu juga melihatlah ia, lalu mengikuti Dia sambil memuliakan Allah. Seluruh rakyat melihat hal itu dan memuji-muji Allah.
Aku balik ke rumah dengan happy. Moses sedang menggambar dan berjanji mendoakanku. Mamaku menelepon. Kakakku mengirim sms. Dan, keluarga sakinah datang. Di luar ramai sekali. Ada topeng monyet. Moses yang duduk paling depan. Nama monyetnya Gambul. Sahabat kecil gue, David Helaha, juga datang. Lisa dan Mery sudah jauh-jauh hari janjian makan bareng setelah Lebaran.
Di kantor, Ocid datang membawa kue Lebaran dan kacang goreng buatan Yeni, istrinya, dan Ibunya. Krope datang bawa kacang goreng lagi. Ais juga bawa kue. Begitu banyak makanan hari ini. Di rumahku ada kue oen bek koek bantat [kocokan gula dan menteganya kurang lama he he], ada roti, ada permen, dan sebentar lagi pasti ada macam-macam kue dan makanan dari Tante Tuti yang Lebaran. Semuanya enak tapi aku belum mau makan banyak. Resolusi gemuknya nanti pas ujung Desember saja :)
Ini masih seperempat hari. Entah apa yang terjadi beberapa menit ke depan. Dan, seperti orang buta di Injil Lukas tadi, "Yesus bertanya padaku: "Apa yang kaukehendaki supaya aku perbuat bagimu di hari ulang tahunmu yang ke-32?" Jawabku, "Tuhan supaya aku dapat melihat."
Respons Eby
Karena itu, saudara-saudaraku yang kekasih, berdirilah teguh, jangan goyah, dan giatlah selalu dalam pekerjaan Tuhan! Sebab kamu tahu, bahwa dalam persekutuan dengan Tuhan jerih payahmu tidak sia-sia. (Korintus 15:58).
Sabar itu pahit tapi buahnya manis. Pepatah ini pas sekali untuk menggambarkan perubahan sikap Eby. Bocah berusia tiga tahun ini adalah salah satu teman kecilku di Pembinaan Anak-Anak (PAA). Kami bertemu setiap Sabtu.
Eby adalah tamu pertama. Gadis kecil berambut keriting ini selalu datang diantar kakaknya Tasya, 11 tahun. Setelah itu dia cuma diam dan melihat sekitar 19-an anak lain. Ketika diajak bicara dia diam atau menangis keras. Dia selalu minta pulang sekitar pukul 18.00 atau satu jam setengah setelah jadwal resmi PAA dimulai.
Mula-mula Eby mencubit keras kakaknya ketika aku berusaha menggendong dia. Lama-lama dia membiarkan aku menggendongnya dengan wajah tanpa ekspresi. Dia juga mulai berani memegang tanganku atau berdiri di samping kakaknya untuk menirukan beberapa gerakan. Meski tetap saja dia tidak pernah membalas satu pun senyumku yang cenderung diobral.
Suatu hari Minggu, aku berkunjung ke rumahnya. Aku dan temanku ingin mengobrol dengan ibunya. Namun, bisa dikatakan kunjungan keluarga kami itu gagal total. Boro-boro berbagi pengalaman iman tentang kasih Yesus, berbicara saja tidak nyaman. Sebab, saat bertamu, rumahnya sedang diperbaiki.
Tapi, aku baru tahu kenapa rambut Eby berbeda dengan Tasya yang rada lurus. Ayah Eby pendeta dan sedang berada di Papua. Dia tinggal di rumah Opanya bersama beberapa saudara ibunya yang sudah berkeluarga. Eby memang manja dan tidak bisa pisah dari ibunya.
Dua minggu kemudian, seperti biasa, Eby datang paling awal. Karena air pel belum kering, Abangku sengaja menutup pintu. PAA itu diselenggarakan di rumah Abangku. Tapi, Eby menunjukkan mukanya di balik jendela kamar. "Ne!" Untuk pertama kalinya Eby memanggilku. Suaranya sangat sangat sangat kencang.
Aku buru-buru membuka pintu. Dia menjawab semua pertanyaanku dengan lidah cadelnya seperti kita sudah sering mengobrol. Bukan cuma itu, Eby begitu bersemangat menyanyi dengan suara kencang pula. Semua nyanyian dengan gerakan diikutinya. Bahkan dia mau menari dengan teman-teman kecil lainnya meski ditertawakan anak-anak yang lebih besar. Eby malah balas tertawa. Lepas. Hari itu dia begitu sukacita. Benar-benar kejutan.
Tak kusangka, Eby baru mau menjadi temanku setelah tujuh bulan lebih. Dia juga mau tersenyum ketika dicium dan balas memelukku. Aku tidak tahu persis apa yang mengubah Eby. Apakah ada hubungannya dengan kunjungan rumah yang aku anggap gagal total itu? Entahlah.
Sabtu itu aku tidak saja berjoget lebih hot bersama Eby tapi juga bernyanyi keras memuji Tuhan sampai suaraku serak. Respons Eby membuat aku lebih bersemangat. Terima kasih Tuhan. Terima kasih Eby.
Karena itu, saudara-saudaraku yang kekasih, berdirilah teguh, jangan goyah, dan giatlah selalu dalam pekerjaan Tuhan! Sebab kamu tahu, bahwa dalam persekutuan dengan Tuhan jerih payahmu tidak sia-sia. (Korintus 15:58).
Sabar itu pahit tapi buahnya manis. Pepatah ini pas sekali untuk menggambarkan perubahan sikap Eby. Bocah berusia tiga tahun ini adalah salah satu teman kecilku di Pembinaan Anak-Anak (PAA). Kami bertemu setiap Sabtu.
Eby adalah tamu pertama. Gadis kecil berambut keriting ini selalu datang diantar kakaknya Tasya, 11 tahun. Setelah itu dia cuma diam dan melihat sekitar 19-an anak lain. Ketika diajak bicara dia diam atau menangis keras. Dia selalu minta pulang sekitar pukul 18.00 atau satu jam setengah setelah jadwal resmi PAA dimulai.
Mula-mula Eby mencubit keras kakaknya ketika aku berusaha menggendong dia. Lama-lama dia membiarkan aku menggendongnya dengan wajah tanpa ekspresi. Dia juga mulai berani memegang tanganku atau berdiri di samping kakaknya untuk menirukan beberapa gerakan. Meski tetap saja dia tidak pernah membalas satu pun senyumku yang cenderung diobral.
Suatu hari Minggu, aku berkunjung ke rumahnya. Aku dan temanku ingin mengobrol dengan ibunya. Namun, bisa dikatakan kunjungan keluarga kami itu gagal total. Boro-boro berbagi pengalaman iman tentang kasih Yesus, berbicara saja tidak nyaman. Sebab, saat bertamu, rumahnya sedang diperbaiki.
Tapi, aku baru tahu kenapa rambut Eby berbeda dengan Tasya yang rada lurus. Ayah Eby pendeta dan sedang berada di Papua. Dia tinggal di rumah Opanya bersama beberapa saudara ibunya yang sudah berkeluarga. Eby memang manja dan tidak bisa pisah dari ibunya.
Dua minggu kemudian, seperti biasa, Eby datang paling awal. Karena air pel belum kering, Abangku sengaja menutup pintu. PAA itu diselenggarakan di rumah Abangku. Tapi, Eby menunjukkan mukanya di balik jendela kamar. "Ne!" Untuk pertama kalinya Eby memanggilku. Suaranya sangat sangat sangat kencang.
Aku buru-buru membuka pintu. Dia menjawab semua pertanyaanku dengan lidah cadelnya seperti kita sudah sering mengobrol. Bukan cuma itu, Eby begitu bersemangat menyanyi dengan suara kencang pula. Semua nyanyian dengan gerakan diikutinya. Bahkan dia mau menari dengan teman-teman kecil lainnya meski ditertawakan anak-anak yang lebih besar. Eby malah balas tertawa. Lepas. Hari itu dia begitu sukacita. Benar-benar kejutan.
Tak kusangka, Eby baru mau menjadi temanku setelah tujuh bulan lebih. Dia juga mau tersenyum ketika dicium dan balas memelukku. Aku tidak tahu persis apa yang mengubah Eby. Apakah ada hubungannya dengan kunjungan rumah yang aku anggap gagal total itu? Entahlah.
Sabtu itu aku tidak saja berjoget lebih hot bersama Eby tapi juga bernyanyi keras memuji Tuhan sampai suaraku serak. Respons Eby membuat aku lebih bersemangat. Terima kasih Tuhan. Terima kasih Eby.
Menunggu
Hari ini aku bertemu dengan dua orang yang tiba-tiba muncul setelah cukup lama lenyap dikunyah bumi. Menyenangkan tapi agak mengerikan juga. Keduanya cuma tampak sekilas. Yang satu aku lihat tadi siang sepulang kantor. Sedangkan yang lain aku ketemu tadi malam sebelum ke kantor.
Sosok yang aku lihat tadi siang itu benar-benar nyata. Maksudnya itu benar dia. Tapi, yang aku lihat tadi malam, agak kurang jelas. Aku belum yakin 100 persen. Padahal, jarak kita sekitar lima meter. Mungkin karena malam. Aku juga tidak buru-buru berbalik untuk memastikan. Terlalu riskan jika benar :)
Aku tidak percaya kebetulan. Tapi, sampai sekarang aku masih bertanya-tanya. "Kenapa Tuhan? Ada apa? Apakah ada hubungannya dengan doa yang aku minta?"
Belum ada jawaban sih. Tapi, aku percaya jawaban apa pun dari Tuhan bukan cuma baik, tapi yang terbaik bagiku. Dan, seperti biasa, aku selalu sabar menunggu, Bapa, :) Sebab, berharap pada-Mu, tidak pernah sia-sia.
Hari ini aku bertemu dengan dua orang yang tiba-tiba muncul setelah cukup lama lenyap dikunyah bumi. Menyenangkan tapi agak mengerikan juga. Keduanya cuma tampak sekilas. Yang satu aku lihat tadi siang sepulang kantor. Sedangkan yang lain aku ketemu tadi malam sebelum ke kantor.
Sosok yang aku lihat tadi siang itu benar-benar nyata. Maksudnya itu benar dia. Tapi, yang aku lihat tadi malam, agak kurang jelas. Aku belum yakin 100 persen. Padahal, jarak kita sekitar lima meter. Mungkin karena malam. Aku juga tidak buru-buru berbalik untuk memastikan. Terlalu riskan jika benar :)
Aku tidak percaya kebetulan. Tapi, sampai sekarang aku masih bertanya-tanya. "Kenapa Tuhan? Ada apa? Apakah ada hubungannya dengan doa yang aku minta?"
Belum ada jawaban sih. Tapi, aku percaya jawaban apa pun dari Tuhan bukan cuma baik, tapi yang terbaik bagiku. Dan, seperti biasa, aku selalu sabar menunggu, Bapa, :) Sebab, berharap pada-Mu, tidak pernah sia-sia.
Thank You for Our Messy Home
Author Unknown
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.
And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.
My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mess, soggy, grimy towels and the dirty lavatory; they are all so convenient.
Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.
Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today; it has baked so many things over the years.
The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing and lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.
Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play. Many children cannot.
Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings... Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible...Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising...Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic with socks that are lost, toast that is burned, tempers that are short, and my children that are so loud...Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times not balanced...Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous...Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who are jobless.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest...Thank you, Lord, for life.
Author Unknown
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.
And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.
My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mess, soggy, grimy towels and the dirty lavatory; they are all so convenient.
Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.
Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today; it has baked so many things over the years.
The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing and lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.
Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play. Many children cannot.
Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings... Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible...Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising...Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic with socks that are lost, toast that is burned, tempers that are short, and my children that are so loud...Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times not balanced...Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous...Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who are jobless.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest...Thank you, Lord, for life.
