December 24, 2008

Grateful Debutante

This morning (or rather afternoon) I lingered in bed until even Emily affectionately descried me as a bum. I vaguely remember stumbling downstairs in response to Pop's shouts (no recollection of what he wanted), consuming two Cutie tangerines while conversing with Mom, and trudging back upstairs to bed. At some point Jeremy covered me with his Mexican blanket because my room was frigid. A few hours later I determinedly shoved aside my mental To Do list and concentrated instead on thankfulness. What a blessing to be able to lounge! What a blessing to be in a (relatively) warm and safe room filled entirely with things that belong to me. So many things, in fact, that I am in the process of sorting and condensing. What a blessing to have people and events at whom/which to look forward. What a blessing to know that there are people thinking and praying for me today. What a blessing to have such a profusion of love in my life. What an immeasurable blessing to have the King of Heaven as my friend.

A startling thought occurred while ruminating on my blessings: I am akin to one of the rich aristocracy of whom I read. Yes, I am poorer than ever and have no assets other than a college degree from an American consumerist point of view. However, I have long acknowledged that I am one of the richest people in the world. At the moment, I am referring solely to material possessions. Incredible that I should be one of the richest people in the world, but in terms of sheer numbers, it is true. Specifically today, it horrified me to realize how close I was to being one of the naive, spoiled society debutantes from literature who fails to help the poor around her though it would be easier and more fulfilling than spending the day in self-amusement. From a global perspective, I am upper class. In reading history, we are so condemning of the rich, but do we realize that we ARE the rich today? Though I do not have much money to give, I can certainly give of my time and talents even while I wait for the Lord to provide a job. In the meantime, I think I will return to visiting the convalescent home. That is a ministry simple and profound --

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

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