Blessed In Many Ways

Sitting here in a Northwest suburb of Chicago today after a night of snow and a week of single digit temperatures, I was reflecting on how blessed I am. 

I wake up every day(a blessing in itself) in a warm home surround by people that love me, appreciate me and look to me for encouragement, guidance and friendship. Outside are elements that some less fortunate than I, have to weather on the street or in a car or maybe lucky enough to find a shelter. I open my my pantry that is always with food and my refrigerator that, although sometimes seems empty, has more than enough to get me through several days. I spend time in God's word virtually every morning so that my day starts right. I have transportation and a job and opportunities that flood my way daily to increase my wealth or maybe just increase my knowledge. The computer I'm typing on is one of three in the house and the 6th laptop I've owned. It's about the 15th computer I've owned in the past 12 years and sometimes wonder how I survived before it. (Wow, did I just type that)

I have a Church that my family and I attend without worry of government interfering with. We have the ability to get involved in hundreds of ministries and offer our time to help others where it fits in with our busy lives. We have resources to give to the Church as God asks and it never feels like a sacrifice, though it used to, before I came to the realization that everything I have is on loan to me from God and I'm just a steward of it while I am here. I try to honor Him with my choices.

People and relationships are the best blessing of all. We grow from each other. Where we are weak, others are strong and when they are weak, we are strong. Going it alone is no way to live. My aunt told me recently that she doesn't socialize much, but she believes that people that socialize a lot don't like themselves, so they need to be around others. She likes herself and enjoys to just hang out, reading, doing crossword, watching t.v., etc. I find it hard to believe that she is fulfilled like she could be with friends around to share experiences with, whether joyful or sad. 

I just thought I write about how I know I'm blessed in this time of uncertainty and maybe it might remind someone else that although they may be struggling in a tough time, they too are blessed in many areas.