Far too many things are taken for granted as we journey through this life especially by Americans. This is one of the first observations share by foreigners who come to this country-that Americans in general have more and appreciate it less than people of any other nation on earth.
For some strange reason we tend to dwell on weaknesses and shortcomings, particularly those of others, while weakening ourselves most in the process. We are also guilty of ignoring the many things we have in common while overemphasizing the few differences dividing us.
We are fully aware that there is strength in unity, yet we allow ego, foolish pride, jealousy and envy to rob us of so much, which life and this land of plenty have to offer us.
If asked, any one of us could have a list of things which we generally take for granted and on each list we’d probably find such things as life, good health, youth and freedom. The saddest part of it all is that no matter how many examples we see, read or hear tell of, we still never seem to fully grasp the importance of these precious possessions until we no longer possess them. To take special people, places and things for granted is to foolishly pretend that they will always be there, while knowing full well that they will not. Then later in life we learn (the hard way) that our inability or refusal to accept facts does not change the facts, only our lives!
Also high on the list of things we take for granted is opportunity, which unfortunately does not always come at an opportune time. However we cannot afford to ignore it until we feel it is a more appropriate time, for usually by then the opportunity no longer exists.
We usually take parents, mates, our children, friends and other special people in our lives for granted often being too close to the proverbial forest to see these giant trees and saplings. Then suddenly, for whatever reason, they are gone and we are left with what has been termed “the saddest words on earth-If only…”
There are those who would argue the degree of freedom which we enjoy in this country but “compared to what?” Contrary to what many would have us believe, we in this nation (with all of its faults) are free to do, to be or to have anything which we tenaciously pursue. The key word is perseverance, but few of us are willing to suffer the setbacks or exert the persistent effort required to succeed. Neither are we wiling to voluntarily make the necessary sacrifices-of time, TV or personal gain, to invest in long-term peace and happiness for ourselves and/or others.
With our short-sighted “horse sense” of vision, we see neither behind nor in front of us, only what’s on either side with (magnified many times), as with the bioptic vision of horses. To a horse a gnat appears as big as a bird and a human seems like a mountain.
Then there are those who would begrudge what they perceive to be limited freedom in an inequitable society. Only after they find themselves locked behind bars like a caged animal do they realize how precious that “limited freedom” was with the biggest limitations self imposed.
Youth and good health are both taken so lightly that we now consider it “socially acceptable” to weaken or destroy them with tobacco, alcohol or other drug habits, which is simply “committing suicide on an installment plan.”
Freedom for those who are not yet ready for it however, can be detrimental and even fatal. Freedom for the bird, which has not yet learned to fly, would mean certain death. In the sacred scriptures we read: “That which baseemeth man is submission unto such restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker.”
May we especially never take for granted Love-of God or man. We should highly respect such love and trust and try to be more deserving of them, even if we feel no need for them at the time for when we need them most they may not be there. Of course God’s love will always be there but even His patience runs out sometimes.
Finally let us never take lightly nor underestimate the power within us to control our own lives and our own destiny (if we choose to do so) for courage or cowardice, success or failure, happiness or discontent are all contingent not by what’s happening outside but rather INSIDE us which directly controls our actions, our attitudes and our lives.
