Sometimes I can't help but sit back and be amazed by how incredibly lucky (blessed) I am. Often, I can be much too quick to forget all of the blessings that I have in my life...an amazing family who loves me unconditionally and with whom I never stop laughing when I'm around them, a good job that I actually don't mind showing up to every day, a roof over my head and food on my plate (aka cereal in my bowl), amazing friends and roommates whose kindness and caring never cease to amaze me, the opportunity to attend an outstanding university and gain knowledge that will continue to benefit me (and hopefully others) throughout my life. Lastly, something that I don't always remember to add to my list of blessings is my appreciation for a physical body that is completely functional and has not experienced any major complications.
There is a woman in my home ward back in Idaho that had both of her legs amputated just below the knee; I believe it was about ten years ago. To make a long story short she left the country and was faced with some serious medical complications, there was nothing that could be done but to amputate her legs. She was a very active woman and needless to say this was a devastating situation. I didn't know her at the time this took place but I know her now...and wow. What an amazing woman. She walks with prosthetic legs but you wouldn't even know it. She rides her tandem bike around our neighborhood with her husband on a regular basis (so precious), and seems to stay fairly active in any way that she can.
I've heard her speak about her experience on multiple occasions and every time I come away even more inspired. She was speaking to a group of us once and told us that when she was a young girl there was a poem that she loved called "The World is Mine" and she decided to memorize it so that she could recite it to herself when she needed a little reminder of how many blessings she had. She then recited the poem for us, by memory of course, and being a room full of women the tears started flowing. I don't know if you've heard this poem before (I've conveniently inserted it below)...but in the first stanza the author speaks of seeing a woman on a bus and being envious of her beauty only to realize this beautiful woman wearing a smile has no legs. Coincidence that this is the poem she decided to memorize? I think not. This woman in my ward is now that beautiful woman with a smile on her face even though she no longer has her legs. I see this woman at church every week, or riding by on her bike with her husband and she is always smiling and always cheerful. I'm not naive enough to think that she never has her down days or that she never gets frustrated and wants to give up, but that's just it...she doesn't.
I whine way too much. I'm working on it; but this woman along with many others in my life motivate me to keep going and to remember that I need to take time to remember and be grateful for all of the things that I do have...and I have a lot.
The World is Mine
Today upon a bus I saw a girl with golden hair; She seemed so gay, I envied her, and wished that I were half so fair; I watched her as she rose to leave, and saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one leg and wore a crutch, but as she passed--a smile. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two legs--the world is mine.
Later on I bought some sweets. The boy who sold them had such charm,
I thought I'd stop and talk awhile. If I were late, t'would do no harm.
And as we talked he said, "thank you, sir, you've really been so kind .
It's nice to talk to folks like you because, you see, I'm blind."
Oh, God , forgive me when I whine;
I have two eyes--the world is mine.
Later, walking down the street, I met a boy with eyes so blue.
But he stood and watched the others play, it seemed he knew not what to do.
I paused, and then I said," Why don't you join the others, dear?"
But he looked straight ahead without a word, and then I knew, he couldn't hear.
The world really is mine.
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