Feeling Blessed

Several things have happened lately to make me stop and think about how truely blessed I am. My husband is a youth pastor in a small rural church. I had always thought that small country churches would be the places to find the youth who are well grounded and lead normal lives. Boy, was I ever in for a shocker. We have very few kids who are coming to us from 2 parent homes. Even most of those who do have two parents have some serious issues to deal with. Two of kids have fathers who attempted to murder them as babies. Many of them have mothers who live with boyfriends who are abusive. There is a brother and sister that their mom left them and their dad a few years ago and she is a drug addict and alcoholic. The list goes on and on

As I am around our youth group, and talk to kids to at our sons' school, I realize that there is so much hurting in the world. Sometimes I can get wrapped up in my own life. I don't truely see the needs all around me because I am too focused on myself or my family. I have got to be there when the phone rings and I am needed. I have to not be so focused on housework or cooking that I put someone off when they need me. It is hard sometimes not to say "I really don't have to talk to you about your boyfriend or about the rumors going around, call back later."

As I see my children growing and becoming little men, I worry about the world they will grow up in. Moral decay is rampant. Right now I am praying that this generation growing up will rise up and become better than the previous ones. God help us all if they don't.