Half Full Or Half Empty?

Remember when you were a child and you did not finish everything on your plate. It seems to be a fairly common practice for the parent to remind the child that other children are starving. And those children would be overjoyed to have such a bounty of food. But, unfortunately, isn't that where it usually ended? A moment of sorrow for the discipline and then consuming more food than we really wanted or needed to eat.

The honest truth is, the fear of disappointing our parent was much greater than the mental snapshot our mind may have captured, at some point, of a starving third world child. Fortunately, the child would not really be sensitive to the affects of not eating for days at a time. But, in the fortunate situations are a trap: Becoming insensitive.

So, the first step in becoming less sensitive is to become more sensitive. If only for a moment, to take a look at where we are in comparison to some other real life issues plaguing us in our own backyard.

My child is driving me to madness, as another small premature baby clings to life and the family pleads with the Lord for healing and understanding.

We just don't have the money to eat out, as another deserted orphan cries in the night, not knowing a parent or the time of arrival for the next meal.

I can't work for this company one more day, as another man of the house swigs the next drink of alcohol to numb the pain of explaining the job layoff to his already broken family.

There is never anything new to wear in this closet, as another smiling third world child is draped in a new T-shirt and that is his or her complete wardrobe.

My life is not as I want it, as a doctor delivers the news of a disease that is incurable and another soon to be widow begins to plan a life without the only earth partner she knows.

The car is not the latest, as another second chance recovering addict rides his BMX bicycle in the rain to another job interview that will fall away because of his past.

My marriage is stale, as another battered female lies quivering in a locked bathroom, doing the best she can to self nurse the physical wounds he has inflicted once again.

A child reluctantly rises for school, as another the same age rises to retrieve dirty water that will be delivered to his or her AIDS stricken mother, too weak to do it herself.

Our home is not large enough, as another scarred United States Veteran pulls his quilted roof upon himself and trembles with visions of explosions and gunfire.

My parents just don't understand me, as another child is delivered by the state to the third family she will know in two years and will prepare to meet a fourth.

I am stressed about this family gathering, as another lonely widow turns another page in the picture album and stares out the window waiting for company that will never come.

"When God's people are in need, be ready to help them."
 ~Romans 12:13 NLT~

~ Tom Rogers ~
Copyright © 2011
All Rights Resrved

[ by: Tom Rogers, Copyright © 2011 ( tomrogers@rocketmail.com ) -- submitted by: Tom Rogers ]