Reasons to be Grateful

*Hezekiah Walker's Grateful playing softly in the background*

This morning I woke up praising God and complaining simultaneously. You see, I haven't worked in FOREVER and I really need money. I can't express how much I need money. But I have this thing about HATING waking up before 9am especially when I have to because I am on somebody else's watch. On top of that, I am NOT a morning person! I don't talk in the morning, I don't smile, I don't want anything to do with anyone before 10:30am. So I had to do A LOT of praying to stay in the right mindset for my first day on this temp assignment.

I knew my job would be in downtown LA and I knew I would be working at some kind of mission doing some HR work. But it HIT me when I got to the mission... I got to one block and there were lines of homeless people...all over! Suddenly, I felt guilty for complaining about not having money. Truth is, although I don't know where my next month's rent is coming from, I'm not homeless. At least not yet...

When I woke up this morning I had a hot shower, put on clean clothes, cooked breakfast, and hopped in my car (which has half a tank of gas!!) This is my everyday reality, which compared to much of the world is a luxury! I know that right now I do feel that I am one paycheck away from being in a truly desperate situation but I was super humbled.

My problems which always seem big to me at the time are nothing different than somebody else has been through or is going through. I can name at least 4 other people in my immediate circle who are going through the same thing! My problems really aren't that big of a deal. And when I feel like complaining maybe I just need to drive down Skidrow where people are really struggling.

Life ain't no crystal stairs... I don't know why I thought I was excluded from this truth.