Naturally

Sometimes I complain.

blah.

After 22 years on this planet,

You'd think I'd learn that complaining,

Though seemingly therapeutic at times,

Has never (ever) solved a single problem for me.

Nope.

Haven't learned that yet.

Being natural is annoying

Unless you're juice.

You know,

nat·u·ral [nach-er-uhl, nach-ruhl]

1. Prone to making stupid mistakes over and over again.

I guess you could say,

I'm a natural at being natural,

Until, I remember.

Because, you know,

The reason I'm complaining in the first place is because I forgot.

It's true.

As ridiculous as it sounds,

I forgot that people in Haiti are starving,

And that some people go through life without ever dating,

And that others would die for the opportunity to go to college.

I forgot that I am blessed

And sometimes my vivid imagination runs wild with my so-called "problems,"

Turns stepping stones into stumbling blocks,

And twists my perspective into an indecipherable knot,

The kind of knot that Boy Scouts get badges for.

I have never been good at untying them either,

But I'm getting better

...I think.

I start to tug at the jumbled mess and I find blessings

In every single strand that comes untangled.

[untangling]

Oh look, there's my amazing family!

[untangling]

Hey! How 'bout that! Here's my awesome education!

[untangling]

Well, what do we have here?

[untangling]

Food.

[untangling]

Clothing.

[untangling]

Shelter.

[untangling]

Love.

Blessings that I forgot about.

Blessings that, one-by-one, restore my perspective back to its beautiful form.

I step back and take a good long look at it,

Like breathing in through my nose while sucking on a pungent mint

My mind clears.

My lungs fill like birthday balloons.

Time almost stops.

And I remember.

Madre turns on music in the kitchen,

And I hear my 3 year-old nephew sing along

I am a child of God

And He has sent me here

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

I am a child of God

And so my needs are great

Help me to understand His will

Before it grows to late.

I am a child of God

Rich blessings are in store

If I but learn to do His will

I'll live with Him once more.

Lead me, guide me,

Walk beside me,

Help me find the way,

Teach me all that I must do

To live with Him someday.

I Am A Child Of God.

I remember.

I start again.

Because that's Life,

And Life is Beautiful.