Pity Parties

My Pity Parties

DeLoy H. Esplin, 18 April 2014

I gritted my teeth.

I tried very hard.

I got it done.

But I felt some pity

For myself 

For my difficulties --

Until, over time, I met

People with no

Feet, arms, sight,

Hearing, voice, mind,

Or eternal perspective,

All of which I have.

In addition, I met people 

Who did far more

With far less

Or were happy with 

What they had.

This made my

Difficulties seem

Considerably smaller,

My pity parties

   Less needed -- 

And I also became far more apt

To count my rich blessings

Instead! 

As we grow older and gradually lose our eye sight, hearing, mobility, strength, stamina, and dexterity against our will, it could become a pattern to complain about everything we are losing instead of focusing on what we still have.  This poem by my brother, DeLoy, used without permission, is my daily reminder to count my blessings.