So the other day I turned on the hot water tap to wash the dishes….. and within minutes the flow turned lukewarm to cold to frigid and a mild trickle…. something had gone wrong with the water heater for the house

 

I instantly knew the next few days were going to be a challenge for us… my friend Aaron Poteat, an accomplished plumber was alerted and a plan was made to get it fixed…but it would be at least a few days to replace the heater…. but this is not a tale of the water heater though. We managed.. and all ended well 5 days later..

 

But I contemplated about the notion that how many billion people in the world have no access to water, let alone hot water or even clean water..

 

So when I did have a shower in the cold water I kept warm by remembering these people… their complaints go unheard…. mine at least got taken care… theirs may never be answered

 

How often do we take for granted the smallest of luxuries and conveniences each day? A working fridge, hot water, a functional car, a microwave, this phone, the ability to have a voice to complain, a house to live in, clothes to wear….. this list goes on and eventually we find that all these ” things ” shape our lives….

 

Can we be grateful for them all?

 

It is only when something goes wrong or becomes a Challenge to us that we realize its importance when it steps out of our lives

 

I mentioned this pickle I was in to a few friends.. my dear friend Jeff Castonguay messaged me back ” let me know when you get your hot water back, till then I too will have cold showers” I tried to convince him not to do this, but his resolve was clear…

 

” you sacrifice, I sacrifice” 5 days later we enjoyed the relief of hot water !

 

This experience taught me to stay even more grateful to all my interactions and occurrences in life. Each challenge is an opportunity to recover that gratitude.

 

Something I have said for decades….

” if we are not grateful for the smallest things in life, we will not be given the bigger things to be grateful for ”

 

So start small and expand out your list.. body.. home….family.. friends… city… country… world…. Galaxy….. universe…..

 

Gratitude and love is the cosmic glue that keeps our souls in this manifested universe

…………..

I love you