Some Days are Stones -

Hell of a day; bitchin' terrible day in fact. I've cussed like a sailor this evening and cursed my Higher Power.

And then I visited with a friend, whose family is in turmoil right now, and talked with another whose ex is horribly in legal trouble, and another friend who can't find an apartment for he and his handicapped son, and another and another and another.

And I'm reminded of this poem my wise grandmother would share, and I had to stop and apologize to the world of goodness that I live in (even though my freakin' health insurance payments are killing me, and I work at a hospital, and I still can't afford to see a doctor, because chaplains are the last to be recognized and the first to be needed, and I have no benefits) -

Today upon a bus, I saw
A lovely maid with golden hair;
I envied her - she seemed so gay -
And oh, I wished I were so fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle,
She had one foot and wore a crutch,
But as she passed, a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine;
I have two feet - the world is mine.

And when I stopped to buy some sweets,
The lad who served me had such charm;
He seemed to radiate good cheer,
His manner was so kind and warm.
I said, "It's nice to deal with you,
Such courtesy I seldom find."
He turned and said, "Oh, thank you, sir!"
And I saw that he was blind.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine;
I have two eyes - the world is mine.

Then, when walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play;
It seemed he knew not what to do,
I stopped a moment, then I said:
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word,
And then I knew; He could not hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine;
I have two ears - the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go,
With eyes to see the sunset's glow,
With ears to hear what I should know:
I'm blessed indeed, The world is mine;
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.