I am a poor American living in a big city. I make less then 30,000 a year, I can barely pay my rent, let alone my debt. I do not have health insurance, and my idea of a nice restaurant is just about anywhere lacking a drive through. By American standards I am poor but alas average. I am in about 30-40k in debt but only about 4000 of that is credit card debt. I am a college drop out, and my education is incomplete. I feel inconvenienced if my coffee is to cold, or if I can not microwave dinner and have to cook it in the oven. I tend to be upset and enraged by high gas prices and even worse aggressive drivers. My only real enemy's are those of a different political party and at the worst when I lose a battle to them, my leaders change.

 

       For in spite of all this....Through all the trials and tribulations..... No Because of these hardships and tests.... I AM THANKFUL.

 

       My city I live in is clean. Others on this planet live in cities where the streets are filthy. I make 30,000 a year. Some only may make 100 dollars a year, "IF" they have a job. I may have to pay for my doctors and dentists. Others would be glad to even find one in the next town a two or three days away. I may have a hard time paying rent, but I do not have a piece of cardboard for a roof, hoping it does not blow away. Having food at all let alone a place where people cook for you is amazing, many go days with nothing but maybe a handful of rice or a small moldy crust of bread. As for my debt, others in this world have nothing. I technically have even less then nothing. I owe money, they don't have any debt, but then again, they don't have food, clothing, or shelter, I do. I sometimes bemoan my unfinished education, but at least I have one, others are lucky to even learn basic math and reading and writing. High gas prices? Aggressive drivers? Well others would be lucky to even get a donkey cart but are content with walking everywhere. As for enemy's, others walk out the door to go to work everyday not knowing if their enemy's will find them. If they do they will never see their loved ones again.

 

       I have been observing people in this country lately at work. I have started to notice what we take for an inconvenience. I look at myself and realize how blessed I am and how petty I have become living here. Our poor have food, clothing and shelter, (yes there are homeless and super poor out their but they still live better then many in third world countries) our sick are taken care of. Yes we may have to pay for things yes there are things that are imperfect and unjust. But we are so blessed.

 

 

P.S. This is not a thanksgiving post but I admit the timing is appropriate. It's been on my mind for about a month or more now. I finally have the words to put it on paper, err blog...

 

Isaiah.