March 8, 2003

“I Am So Blessed”

 It’s Saturday.  This morning I woke up and lounged in bed until I felt ready to get up.  Around 7, I ventured out, turned on my coffee pot and dialed up my mother.  After a good chat, I leashed up my puppy, Ace, and headed out for a Saturday morning stroll.  The sun shone down for the fist time in weeks and everyone I passed was smiling.

 Ace and I stepped in tune with the robins chirping and eventually we landed at the corner paper box where I deposited fifty cents for the daily news.

 A white truck paused for us to cross the street to head back home.  A black car passed and gestured hello and pointed to my dog, mouthing the words, “Your dog is so cute!”  I smiled and waved thank you.

 As we turned the corner to head home, I stopped a moment to really notice where I live.  It’s an apartment complex full of trees and greenery, beautiful buildings, gazebos, neighbors who stop and take the time to smile hello and I realize, I am richly blessed.

 Across the world in Iraq, I wonder how many women woke up the way I did this morning?

 When I reached home, I grilled some chicken and scrambled some eggs for breakfast.  I served my daughter, who was on the computer, busily building a new web site while she bopped to her favorite CD.

 I sat down with the paper and read stories about politics, school, the police force and I read the Opinion page where plenty of people had a lot to say about our President.  Some of it was good.  Some of it was not so good.

 Across the world in Iraq, I wondered how many are able to voice their true opinions through the media?

 Later today when the computer was free, I got online, looked up the Whitehouse and sent an email to President Bush.  In the letter I told him I’d not voted for him and had been one of the irate ones when he was elected.  Then I told him that on September 11^th, I thanked God he is our leader and that my family prays for him daily.  I told him I am a card-carrying member of the “Presidential Prayer Team” and I thanked him for taking the time during his National Press Conference Thursday night, to say thank you to the millions who are praying for he and his family.

 Across the world in Iraq, I wondered how accessible Saddam Hussein is to his people?  (I all ready knew the answer).

 I spent today doing exactly what I felt like doing, but in the forefront of my mind, with every task, I thought to myself, “I am so richly blessed”.

 Tonight as I sit here in front of a roaring fire, my thoughts turn to the people of the world and I remember that Iraq isn’t the only country where people are oppressed.  I am quick to thank my lucky stars (God), that I was born an American.

 These days, every breath I take is a Blessed breath.  We don’t know what is about to happen but you can bet this American is grateful that I live in a nation where freedom is a given.

 I am richly blessed, indeed.

Love to all,

Alexis :-)