kevinapex's blog

some perspective on being thankful

 abuse

Hello All, This is a repost from last year, but it came to my mind so I thought I would share it again.

As Thanksgiving approaches I thought I would share what I think is an interesting contrast in the real meaning of being thankful for what we have.  This is a real example of two women, both in their 70s who live worlds away from each other and whose life experiences differ greatly. I think it is an interesting perspective on being thankful.   

The first woman is an American. For the past thirty years her lifestyle has been well above the average American family. She has had at her disposal more then enough financial resources to enjoy most of what this world has to offer.  She has seen all of her children grow up to have successful careers, she has many beautiful and talented grandchildren that love her dearly, and she lives in a large and comfortable home.  Her husband, while perhaps not the hopeless romantic of Hollywood movies, nonetheless has remained faithful for 50 + years and has been an outstanding provider.  All that said, when I talked to her about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday her remark was a brusque “what have I got to be thankful for?” Sincere words I am afraid from someone who despite all of the above amazingly feels shortchanged in life.  She prefers lamenting about all the things she didn’t get to do in life instead of relishing in all of the blessings bestowed upon her. 

The second woman lives in a rural Romanian village. While the same age as the first she looks 20 years older. Rail thin, her leathery skin is the result of decades of hard work eking out a living off the land.  Her former husband was a drunken abuser who severely beat her, often in front of her children in a land and time where there was no escape from such abuse. Her husband eventually abandoned the family and over the years she lost contact will all but one of her children. The only grandchild she knows of is mentally retarded, a condition generally disdained in her culture. Despite her age she joyfully cared for this child so that her daughter could work.  She has every reason to be bitter and miserable yet this precious lady is one of the most upbeat and positive people I have ever met. She thanks God for even the most mundane of things, and her smile and bright eyes are captivating. During my visits to Romania she adopted me and became my Romanian Grandmother, a title I proudly bestowed upon her.  My time with her was brief and we could not communicate directly, yet this woman had a profound affect on my life. Sadly I have fallen out of contact with those who introduced me to her and I am unsure of whether she is still alive.  She comes to my mind quite often, especially when I start griping about petty things. 

Just some food for thought as our thoughts are on food!  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!    

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