Word of Encouragement

I am thankful

For the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching TV,
Because that means he is at home and not on the streets;

For the taxes that I pay,
Because it means that I am employed;

For the mess to clean after a party,
Because it means that I have been surrounded by friends;

For the clothes that fit a little too snug,
Because it means I have enough to eat;

For my shadow that watches me work,
Because it means I am out in the sunshine;

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing,
Because it means I have a home;

For all the complaining I hear about the government,
Because it means that we have freedom of speech;

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot,
Because it means I have been blessed with transportation;

For my huge heating bill,
Because it means I am warm;

For the lady behind me in church that sings off key,
Because it means that I can hear;

For the pile of laundry and ironing,
Because it means I have clothes to wear;

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,
Because it means I have been capable of working hard;

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours,
Because it means that I am alive;

And finally … for too much e-mail,
Because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.