Andrea Muirhead
A few years ago I heard one my friends talking about something that he
referred to as “First World Problems.” These are the things in life like complaining about your slow Wi-Fi connection, or your bottled water being warm, modern conveniences that we take for granted and then we complain about them.
I appreciate that I live in Canada. I am thankful for more than one set of clothing and more than one pair of shoes. I am grateful for my education, my family, my friends, and the freedom to be a Christian.
Fall is a great time to reflect on my blessings. I have been given so much, I was born into it. I didn’t do anything to deserve my privilege, so I should want to use it to help others.
So what can I do? I can make my small corner of the world a little better. I can be brave, and reach out to those around me. I can be the kind person in the grocery store, watching for people who need help. I can volunteer my time to help with community programs. I can learn about and get to know people who are different than me, people I have pre-judged, or people that I am afraid of.
“Thinking will not overcome fear but action will” –W. Clement Stone.
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them” (Matthew 22: 37-40 –The Message).
Join me in acknowledging what we have been blessed with, and then let’s do something to help those around us. May God give us the courage to reach out and change our small part of the world!