Ungrateful Swine

This time of year brings about many different emotions. Some of you may be wondering, 'why ungrateful swine?' Well, in all honesty, I feel as though I have seen more ungrateful people in the past month than I have people who are actually thankful and grateful for what they have been given or for what people have done/are doing for them. It's amazing...this time of year...and people go bananas...we lose sight of the kind of heart and mindset we should have.

Upon looking up the word "ungrateful" in the dictionary, the definition found is: unappreciative; not displaying gratitude; not giving due return or recompense for benefits conferred.

I dare you the next time that you go into a store to pay attention to what little children are talking about...what they're asking for...what they're crying about. Then I dare you to hear what teenagers are saying and demanding. Then I dare you to look at what middle aged people are buying and saying...then take a good look at yourself...what would people say about your attitude if they heard you in a store?

I'm not going to lie...I am ungrateful. It's something that I have to remind myself daily...to be grateful for what I have...to not always be wanting something more...to not complain that what I have isn't "good enough"... that I "need" something else.

I don't say this to lay on a guilt trip at all...it's something that I've been observing for the past couple of months and really felt compelled to share.

Forgive me Lord if I seem ungrateful...for what I have...for what I'm given...and for people in my life...

Ew...really?!

For my one reader...

The white tundra, which is known as Maine...the great white north...which is my town...gets an insane amount of snow each year. This I somewhat missed last year, but the more colder that it gets and the more thoughts of "snow days" for school that come, I realize more and more how much I miss NZ.

That's beside the point...this story may leave you pondering, "hmm...what do I intake in a day?"

I barely passed my car inspection because of my tires. They basically had zero tred left on them...and me being so cheap, I put off getting them...until last week. With snow falling beautifully, it lands on the road and makes it so slippery! When I fishtailed last week, I decided it was time to just deal, shell out the money, and get some safety tires on my car.

This garage doesn't take appointments...it's a first come, first serve business. I arrive around 10am, left my cell at home, left my knitting at home, AND left my book at home. I had nothing, so I was just praying that it wouldn't take too long to put four new tires on my red bullet.

I walk in, check in, ask how long it will be... "Oh, about two hours." Great. Neat. Just what I wanted to do on my Friday. I reluctantly said "okay, I'll just wait" and walked to the "waiting room" which had six chairs, and automotive magazines...how did they know I love those?!

I sit down, look at the lady across from me who was all bundled up and had a crotchity look on her face...she was clearly not impressed with her waiting time. I picked up an Antique magazine, read a week old newspaper (so hopefully nothing changed), and read the winter events for Aroostook County in a little pamphlet.

I saw man after man come in, grab coffee, wait in line, leave, come back and do the same thing over again. The lady across from me was clearly getting hungry because she grabbed a quarter from her pocket and placed it into one of the most disgusting things ever... a candy dispenser machine.

The choice was either peanut m & m's or cashews. There were barely any left in either container and the stains inside each dispenser were enough to make my stomach churn like butter. It got me wondering....how many people touch those EVERY day...and how OLD are the "select items" in each one.

"Miracles" according to Reader's Digest...

I was reading this the other day and found these to be too interesting not to share...It's taken from this Christmas edition of Reader's Digest.

Some readers share the miracles in their own lives...

"The sunrise my father and I watched standing at the top of one of the Smoky Mountains."
"Our son fell 40 feet off his barn roof onto cement and didn't break any bones."
"All the factors that came together to help me find the daughter I had given up for adoption."

"A bumblebee flying."

"My husband getting out of the Pentagon on 9/11."
"During a serious kidney stone attack at age 37, I went into a coma and saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I regained consciousness and lived. I am now 88 years old."
"Some would say that my actually getting married was a miracle." (burn)

"The days are filled with miracles: a flower blooming, my heart beating, the purr of a cat, the Internet." (interesting progression there)

"I feel that someone turning his life around for the better is a miracle."

"Love for the unlovable."

"Forgiveness."

"Being able to have enough income to share with others less fortunate."

"Hearts changed."

Amen.

OK for no SK...

Approximately four weeks from now, I was meant to be leaving to teach English in Suwon, South Korea. However, with the help of following God's leading, listening to my heart, and trying to better myself before I can give 100%...I am post-poning South Korea for a few months...

My intentions for going were not pure...and though I write that with remorse, I'm thankful that I've noticed that in myself...and I am trying to correct that before I venture off overseas again. I don't want to go somewhere if God isn't at the forefront of it all...and at this time, He wasn't with me going to South Korea. I was going for different reasons...which weren't necessarily Godly.

I don't say that to receive praise or to raise a fuss, but I wanted people who read this, to be let in on things that others may not hear about for a while. My family is being really supportive and I believe this is where God wants me for now...to straighten my heart out with why I really want to go...

I am still substitute teaching, working at an after school program, and volunteering at two youth groups...and I love doing all of these things. I was working at the after school program today and had a nice little chat with a fourth grader named "Bella." I asked her if she knew and Edwards...and she just laughed at me...and then we played with glitter. I'm having fun blessing these kids and seeing them laugh.

God has a plan and I'm thankful that I don't need to know what He has for me in the future...as long as I'm living for Him in the now...and that's A-OK with me.