Focus on the blessings ~

     While hubby was driving during our recent road trip, I happened upon an article in the newspaper that really fired me up.  I hope you'll indulge me for a (brief) moment.  In essence, the article quoted some woman who was ticked off that she'd spent $30-40 for batteries and related emergency supplies in preparation for Hurrican Irene.  Although the hurricane DID make landfall, it did not create the destruction that the forecasters had anticipated and therefore, this woman felt her money had been wasted and could have been spent on "shoes or a bag".  Really!??!  What in the WORLD has happened to some peoples' mindsets ~ let's all take 5 minutes and put things into perspective. 
     Shouldn't those who were in the path be grateful that their loved ones, their homes & places of business were not harmed?  Shouldn't we ALL be grateful that it did not pan out so badly because a disaster of that projected magnitute would most definitely have had a negative impact on our already shaken economy?  I'm STILL scratching my head over this. Having said that -  it's one thing to spend upwards of a hundred dollars on a generator as a precaution, and stand in line now to return it because the money would be better spent on groceries or bills.  Many of us are feeling the effects of the economy.
     If "wasting" money on emergency supplies is the biggest problem one has in life -  then for Heaven's sake, volunteer at a shelter, donate your old clothes, run an errand for an elderly neighbor, deliver meals on wheels to housebound individuals....there are literally hundreds of organizations and people that are worthy....but for the love of God, let this be a reminder that counting our BLESSINGS should be at the forefront.

"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings" - Eric Hoffer