There is a reason...

There is a reason I awoke today.  If I do not pay attention I may not know what that reason is.  Lord, help me to see why you gave me another day to breathe.

It is so easy to take what I have for granted.  I wake up and feel like I do not want to go to work, I don’t look forward to the tasks I need to do and wish the weekend was longer.  Maybe today is the day I am supposed to bless someone who does not have a job to complain about.  How easily I forget my job is a blessing.

When I wake up I see the messes in the house and think how I do not want to pick them up.  I think about all the little projects that I need to get done but do not want to do.  Maybe today is the day I am supposed to bless someone who does not have a home to clean or maintain.  How sad that I take these four walls for granted.

I get in my car, start it, and realize I need gas.  With prices creeping up to $4 a gallon I am not exactly thrilled or looking forward to my next trip to the gas station.  Maybe today is the day I am supposed to bless someone who does not have a car to worry about filling with gasoline.  Sometimes I am so unappreciative.

While at work I become easily annoyed with my co-workers.  I am working on projects that relay on my co-workers participation.  Work life would be so much easier if they would just do what they need to do so I can do what I need to do.  Maybe today is the day I am supposed to be less focused on me and ask a co-worker if there is anything I can do to help them.  Sometimes I forget I am their co-worker, they are just not mine.

Driving to lunch I come in contact with other drivers that frustrate me.  One is in front of me driving 25mph in a 45mph zone.  Out of frustration I aggressively pass them and see it is an old person driving.  I mumble that “they” should get off the road.  Maybe today is the day I was supposed to show patience and not so aggressively pass them.  Maybe unbeknownst to me I just added to their fear of driving or even helped make them feel inadequate as an aging adult.

After work I get home to find my son needs a ride to baseball practice.  It frustrates me because I wanted to get some early evening fishing in today, the weather is perfect.  Maybe today is the day I am supposed to bless my son and spend time with him since I am the only father he has and will ever have.  How easily I forget that my time is not only for me.

Relaxing in front of the TV I watch a segment on people in need, people that can be helped with just a little effort from me.  It may require a little cash out of my pocket or visiting a shelter, or helping out at an event for those needing the help.  Maybe today is the day I am supposed to turn off the TV and go to a local shelter and serve soup to those less fortunate.  Sitting in my recliner, full from supper, I easily forget there are some that will go hungry tonight.

Lying in my bed I recap my day.  I remember how frustrated I was in having to get up for work, how the home projects are not getting done like I wish they would, how expensive gas is and the second car will likely need gas as well, how my co-workers stood in the way of my progress, how that old lady should not be driving any longer, how I hope I can get some fishing in tomorrow after work, and how I am still full from supper.  I have pathetically made this entire day about me.

I pray a quick prayer to God.  I thank him for this day and pray that I am blessed to wake for another.

If God blesses me tomorrow there will be a reason why I wake.