Sunday, May 29, 2011

I Count My Blessings

I count my blessings. I just came in from outdoors here in Minnesota. The temperature is sitting at about 65 degrees, the sun is shining, and for some odd reason there were no bugs flitting around my head as I welcomed in the summer season by planting some flowers and weeding some flower beds. Over the past week a lot of us northerners have been bemoaning the fact that we’ve had frost on a couple of mornings and that we’re sick of the fact we’ve had a lot of rain, not much sun, and temps that have been below normal.

I count my blessings and have decided to stop the whining. My house is standing, my basement is not flooded, the trees are budding and my family is around me. I sit and once more turn on CNN and sit transfixed while watching the horrible devastation over a large part of the United States, both with flooding and the horrific tornados that ripped apart lives and communities. Once again, a lump forms in my throat as I watch a father struggle to get out the words, “I have lost both my sons.” Another woman still looks in shock as she gazes about a pile of rubble that used to be her home and states, “I have nothing left. It’s all gone.” She shrugs and her eyes are glazed over. Another parent is frantic because he’s traveled to all the local hospitals and still he cannot find his missing son. These events are almost beyond comprehension.

I count my blessings because I don’t have to stand in shocked awe, I don’t have to deal with the fact that one of my loved ones is still missing. I don’t have to worry when the chance of a warm meal and a hot shower will present itself. I don’t have to dig through a pile of boards and branches searching frantically for some favorite memento that I can cling to, something that will ground me and help me to take the next step to recovery and rebuilding. Something that will give me hope.

My heart goes out to all of those poor souls who have been affected by the tragic events of the last week. My respect is tenfold for those who despite the fact could have lost their own lives, instead they stepped up and went beyond the call in order to help others and save them from certain death. And I sit in wonder as I watch the strength of the human spirit. One man has already begun rebuilding his home. Another works tiredly yet with firm conviction as he rebuilds his wife’s beauty shop. Amazing.

I count my blessings.

3 comments:

Diana Hunter said...

I feel blessed as well, Ruby. Here in New York we've been getting rain. Lots and lots of rain. Basements have flooded and farmers are unable to put in crops because the fields are still so wet that some might become permanent ponds.

But my house is strong and my basement dry, my family is safe and I have a job. My problems pale in comparison with so many others.

Several years ago I put a link up on my website to the American Red Cross. I urge all our readers to make a donation to help people put their lives back together.

Good post, Rubes!

Diana

Lynn LaFleur said...

I agree with Diana about the Red Cross. It's always there to help people in need.

I feel so sorry for the people who have lost everything in floods and tornados. I offer up a prayer every day that I'm safe and so is my family.

Lynn

Tara Nina said...

Ruby,
Beautiful post. It puts our lives in perspective.
I am thankful for what I have. We've had some nasty
weather, sudden storms, hail the size of golfballs, but so far nothing that compares to what others have suffered.
Such terrible loss for so many.