How Fitting.....

This was the reading in my devotional book on July 11, the day we left for Ethiopia:

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord... Psalm 92:1a

*If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

*If you have never experienced battle, the loneliness of being in prison, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

*If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.

*If you have money in the bank, money in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among 8% of the world's most wealthy people. 

*If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful...you are blessed because the majority can, but do not.

*If you prayed yesterday and today...you are blessed because you believe God does hear and answer prayer, even though you are in the minority by holding this belief.

*If you can read these words...you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. -W. T. Purkiser

Little did I know that morning that we would be meeting all of these people on our trip: those who were ill, those who had experienced battle, those who were in prison, those who had been tortured, those who were starving, those with no food in the fridge, those with no clothes, those with no roof, those with no place to sleep, those with no money, those who could not smile, those who do not pray, those who do not believe in God, those who could not read. We met all of them. 

Today, I am giving thanks unto the Lord for the blessings He has given me. And I hope that I can use my blessings in a way that shows my true gratitude.