This blog post is taken from my book Golden Nuggets, and it’s a good reminder to focus on what we have… and not on what we don’t have.
Tennyson Guyer wrote a poem entitled, “God, forgive me when I whine,” and it goes like this…
Today upon a bus I saw a girl with golden hair;
She seemed so happy, I envied her and wished that I were half as fair;
I watched her as she rose to leave, and saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used 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 been really 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.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine – I have two ears; the world is mine.
Two legs to take me where I go,
Two eyes to see the sunset’s glow,
Two ears to hear all I should know,
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine – I’m blest, indeed, the world is mine.
