Spoiled Rotten

 

No. We don't have to live in a palace like this to be spoiled... and spoiled isn't really the right word. We, in the United States particularly, take so much for granted. We do not recognize the bounty of our lives. We don't understand the concept of enough.

We can just be working class citizens thinking we are just getting by. We think this because we look at the 1%, or the four bedroom houses in exclusive areas to those who are employed, to those who own their homes.

And it is a struggle. The expenses of living here, especially as regards housing, are numerous. We want to give our children some of what they see that other children have.

However most of us have running water. We can take showers with hot water. We don't have to boil our water or walk for miles to get it. So many in the world do not have this luxury. 

Many are thankful just to be able to get clean water. Most of us take this for granted.

We don't have to leave the United States to find people who have learned that life can change in a moment and all our needs are suddenly out of reach.

it's a hard awakening.

I had such an awakening after Hurricane Micheal entered our house with bay water.

But we were fortunate to have help immediately. Electricity was slow but the water in our house was restored quickly. We think of water for drinking, but water is really important for cleaning. We were able to clean floors and walls and our outside porch where we lived for a couple of months. 

We were able to purchase cleaning supplies (those of us who still had income and the means). For others, the generosity of people from near and far brought them to us. (i must mention UMCOR who prepares these things for disasters before they even happen).

The military came in with bottled water and MREs.

Organizations such as Good Samaritan and individuals came with chainsaws and tarps to clear roads and cover roofs.

We were in need but others supplied us in our need. Others cared that we were suffering. 

As I write, firefighters are working night and day to contain the wildfire that is destroying the beautiful mountains and coast of Los Angeles.

I hiked those mountains less than a year ago and can contest to their beauty.

Going up in smoke.

We take government help in times of crisis for granted. 

We lost our heat on Christmas Eve when a power pole was hit by a motorist and blew out an essential part of our heating system. Several days later a cold spell hit sunny Florida. Our house is now a consistent 52, sometimes higher, but mostly low 50s.

 It feels cold. We're not used to it, but what we are is uncomfortable. We even have a space heater that can bring a room to almost 60. If our rooms were smaller, it would be higher.

But my mind goes to those in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee where people are overjoyed to have a winterized camper in this cold front. I think of those poor people in Gaza who have moved from place to place to escape bombs and have little to nothing to keep themselves (and their children!) warm. Hunger decreases the body's ability to generate heat. That takes a lot of energy, energy that comes from food.

We need to be more grateful that our needs are met.

We need to thank those who have been there for us in our need.

We need to recognize the difference between need and want.

 

We need to see in others the needs we have and give to them with the abundance of what we have been given.