I had an episode in the airport last week as I was flying in for a performance and the gate to my flight changed 4 times causing me to miss my flight. The next two scheduled flights were booked meaning I wouldn't get to my destination until very late. So I decided to give myself a "feel sorry for Ambie day." Upset that I carried all this heavy baggage (I don't pack light) and now having all these extra hours to wait, I starting becoming miserable. I started calling my mother complaining, and drafting up letters to this incompetent airline, when all of the sudden a blind man with the most beautiful seeing eye dog came out of nowhere.
This airport is the busiest in the country and there were people everywhere. It was no coincidence that this blind man and dog sat right next to me. Suddenly my "inconveniences" didn't seem to matter. It was just that, an inconvenience, not a major problem. I thought to myself here is a man around my age who seems so happy of what he has been given and he can't even see how beautiful his own dog is. Can you imagine not knowing what your children, family or your best friend looks like? Friends, sometimes God has to smack us right in the face in order for us to realize just how PRIVLEDGED we are. It's a privilege to live in the United States of America and to have things we take for granted such as touch, sight, taste and smell.
What if you were deaf and couldn't hear this thing we call music? When was the last time you thanked God for just your senses? We think we are entitled to these things, but really, it's a gift. Even being able to practice what I'm doing right now...freedom of speech and to speak out is an honor that many people in this world would be killed for doing. So today I encourage you to count your blessings and write down on a piece of paper EVERYTHING you're thankful for. Once you start doing that, the phrase "don't sweat the small stuff" starts to become more and more real. Live life and appreciate what you have and not what you lack.
YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made. -Psalm 139:13-14
