Dishes

She poured in the automatic dish-cleaning powder and watched as they began to be scrubbed and rinsed. "All this work," she murmered, the dishes continuing their job right before her eyes.

I've got mountains of laundry and dishes to do today. And after that, I've got lots of cleaning to do. And after that there's cooking, which of course will be followed by more cleaning. Honestly, I don't feel like doing much but sleeping today.

Fortunately, I've tried keeping the habit of, whenever I feel any sort of negativity in my life that erupts from the existence of a material object, to mentally examine my situation in comparison to those of the billions of others who live without food, shelter, or clothing.

People on this earth, right now, are homeless, starving, and naked but for rags. I know that a popular Indian preacher was happy to travel through India with only the clothes on his back for seven years. Literally. He and his group wore their same clothes everyday for seven years, and he was blessed to be one of the only ones with shoes. They slept in ditches and were the victims of brutal hate-crimes. But everyday, they were greatful to God and even prayed for the people who hurt them.

Right this very moment, I thank God for every dish I have to scrub, every thread I have to wash and dry. I am glad to have more things than I know what to do with; and I am grateful for having a faith that gives helps me to have such gratitude.

No matter what's going on in your life, you'd be suprised as to how many wonderful things there are. I you can simply readjust one or two of your thinking patterns, you'd be suprised just how much better your life could be.

Try it! For the next month or so, keep track of everything in your life that you are thankful for. Examine the things that you are not thankful for and see if you can't view them from a sweeter, more advantageous light.