There but for the Grace of God go I

[azsnowman]

I spent a better part of the afternoon driving around, hit WalMart, Kmart etc. I cannot believe my eyes as to how many homeless people we have up here now, it breaks my heart to see this . These people are very curtious, clean and well mannered but you can tell they are truly down on their luck. I have SOOOOOO much to be thankful for, my health, my business, my family, my Storm2K family and too many other things to count! Isn't that a true saying, "There but for the Grace of God go I?" Yes.......I've had more than my fair share of things happen to me over the past year but ya know what?? I'm STILL a very, very lucky man

I know this has been said time and time again but in these trying times we facing, it's nice to give everyone a pat on the back, a hug........so gang, here's a heartfelt THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart......May the Good Lord Bless you as he has me.

Dennis

[GulfBreezer]

Very nice post Dennis! Yes it is true that we sometimes lose sight of what we are truly blessed with until we come across someone who is in far worse shape than ourselves. I try to count my blessings every single day and know that I love others and that I am loved. There are so many people in this world who dont experience that. I have lived and loved with my heart and God shows me daily that I will always have everything that I will ever need (not want). That has to be enough for me. Life is good, even with it's trials and tribulations, we are truly blessed.

[streetsoldier]

When Debi is "down" due to ugly circumstances, I have had to remind her that "this is merely a TEMPORARY situation"...as it always is.

Yes, the last week has been wearing away at us, but it IS only a temporary setback...as will be the next "crisis", and the next, and the next...

I, too, have been homeless once...I never dined so heartily as with two others sharing one large can of tuna...and I've eaten at huge banquets in the rarified atmosphere of the rich and powerful. I found that, all things considered, I'd rather have the company of the poorest (in wealth, as men reckon it)...they have riches of spirit, comradeship and "heart" that all the money in the world can't buy.

[azskyman]

Our perspective is always from an ever-changing reference point. Something happens in our life today that alters it...and we thus see more clearly the importance and significance of what we have...not what we do not.

I have worked hard (two jobs from 1971 - 1997) to have the material comforts around me...yet the most highly prized substance in my life comes to me in oft-surprising ways.

This week, for example, a photo of a couple former students (1977) of mine jumped onto my office monitor in the midst of the work I was doing.

Each was there next to their own kids...one holding a first place ribbon from the county fair, and two others now spending their second year in this country after being adopted from Russia a year ago.

That these two would think to share those experiences with me are the most precious gifts and why I find enjoyment and meaning at this point in my life.

Good post Dennis....

[Miss Mary]

Dennis - I'll second and third that, great topic!!! Sometimes it does take seeing a homeless person struggling or a young child with cancer (that's what really gets me) to appreciate our lives, families, situations.

We chose a nice suburb of Cincinnati to raise our family in. Many, many families out here. Great public school system (Jim and I were both taught in Catholic schools) that our girls go to. Blue Ribbon schools, most teachers have Master Degrees. But the kicker is about 1/2 or more are affluent families. They give their kids brand new cars at age 16 to drive to school! And these are very nice cars - BMW's, Audi's, etc. Then these nice cars sit all day in the school parking lot. Just so the teens can say - I drove to school today! And of course the rest comes with this picture - name brand clothes, etc. We do not live like this, even if we could, I would not hand Nina a brand new car! She'll most likely get to borrow mine (Honda Civic) on weekends, if she proves to us she's a good driver (and gets the hang of a 5 speed, LOL). Sometimes we all wish we didn't live here. Nina says it's like living in a bubble - it's not the real world. And she's 16 - so young to see thru all this c*ap.

I like to tell my girls it's best to be happy with where you are - what you have and most importantly, what you can give back.

So there's my point of reference. I just smile at these families that take 3 - count em, 3 - vacations a year. Have 3 and 4 car garages and huge houses. I like where we are too (financially) and hopefully my girls will see that one day when they're grown. Possesions are not what matters, it's what kind of person you are that matters. At least that's what I think.

[Stephanie]

It truly is sad Dennis. Alot of it has to do with the employment rate and people just can't afford their homes anymore. We've seen how hard it has been for our buddy Bill just trying to get funds from the different organizations to help him move. The money has dried up.

We all do have alot to be thankful for - my buddies here at S2K is DEFINATELY one of them!