Think you’re having a bad day/month/year?  Turn on the news.

I’ve had a hard time pulling myself away from CNN the past couple of days, as Hurricane Harvey devastates our fellow Texans and our friends in our previous home of Louisiana.  The scenes are unbelievable.  Truly.  I’ve seen a few photos on Facebook that have made me stop and question, “Is that actually real?”  It’s difficult to put ourselves in the positions of the people we see in these images, but it’s a valuable lesson in perspective when we do just that.

Just a few days ago, for example, I was complaining about the unending construction near one of the major retail centers in town.  Yesterday when I left a store in that area, I was grateful the roads were closed due to construction, not floodwaters.

At home, my sons may refuse to eat many of my dishes . . . but I have food to offer them.  Both give us trouble at bedtime and would rather sleep in Mama and Daddy’s bed . . . but we have warm beds for everyone.  I don’t enjoy cleaning my house, but I have a house to clean.  My Tahoe has over 100,000 miles on it, but I have a vehicle.  My husband works long hours and is often away from home, but he has a job that provides for us.  We struggle to get homework done every night, but our school still stands.  My son broke his wrist while on vacation, but he is alive and healthy.

As I sit and type this, I have electricity.  I have clean water within an arm’s reach.  After I finish this, I plan to shower and get ready to attend church service at a building that still stands.  I have clean, dry clothes to wear.

And as I listen to my younger son play with trains and sing his own version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in the next room, I have great reason to smile.  May I never, ever take any of these precious blessings for granted.

May God bless Texas and Louisiana.