DON’T TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED
There are so many things we take for granted. The sad thing is that with most of them, we don’t even know we are taking them for granted.
Take the internet. Sure, some of us will admit we are slightly addicted. We just don’t know how bad it is until we can’t get onto the internet when we want to.
Yesterday, we had thunderstorms all day long. My connection to the internet was intermittent. What I mean by that is, I spent some time working on a note and when it was time to send it, there was no connection. My USB light was blinking – which means death to the nice long note – which I didn’t save and I just lost because I see that dreaded “page not found.” UGH.
This morning hubby woke me up to tell me there was NO water. This means that somewhere along the water line, there was a leak. Being a water association, that means we all page the same guy (poor guy) and say, “Hey, Milton, there’s no water!” To which he will always calmly reply, “I know and we’re working on it right now and you will have your water as soon as we can get it back online for you.” No matter how many people call, he is always polite.
But no water! I needed to wash my hair. I needed to make coffee. I needed … it is so amazing what you realize you do with water when you don’t have any water. Laundry, coffee, dishes, flushing, drinking, and most important of all, brushing teeth!
Of course, this is when I get my revenge on hubby – I called him at the office and smugly remind him that while he laughs at me, I do have water. I always keep a gallon or two on hand for moments just like this one. He pokes fun at me because he wants to make sure I don’t go back to being a packrat – that person who has cases of toilet paper and paper towels, and huge stashes of emergency supplies “just in case we need them.”
I’m not that bad anymore but I NEVER take toilet paper for granted. Trust me. There were times when napkins and tissue were put in use and I always swore I would never again be without toilet paper. No, I don’t keep cases on hand (but mom does and she doesn’t live far from here!) – but I always have a pack or two so that I am never without again. Ever.
So anyway, taking things for granted – the worst thing we take for granted is our loved ones. We often treat others better than we do our own family members. It’s like, because we are in the same family, they should put up with our rudeness while we are unfailingly polite to total strangers.
Our loved ones are to be more valuable and precious to us than anyone else on the face of this earth. We should look at them and remember what it is we love about them – AND like.
We should protect them by never talking badly about them. We should praise them both in public and to their faces. We should value them as something worth taking care of – far more than we do our vehicles!
We do live in a wonderful world. There is so much around us that we should value and appreciate.
Try to think of five things today that you take for granted – then remind yourself why you are grateful about it. Need a little help? How about – electricity??? Imagine having to use kerosene lamps again. Toothpaste or deodorant? Think how awful it would be in this world without them? Your dog? You car?
Come on – you can thing of 5 things! Then – BE GRATEFUL AND JOYFUL!
