I will NEVER forget you.

I Was Born Lucky

I am fortunate.  I'm not rich, but I'm

comfortable.  All that we have has come

from hard work and good sense.

But I'm also lucky ~ I had the good luck

to be born in the United States.  I was

guaranteed an education, we had a house,

we had food every night.

This year I had the great fortune to travel

around the world, with my children who

are just stepping into adulthood.  While

we had amazing experiences and tons of

fun, I hope for them they really saw the

plight of other children in this world.

I met the little girl in the photo in the

jungles of Cambodia in the ruins of the

Angkor Wat temples.  She was working.

All day in the intense Asian heat she approaches

tourists and tries to sell the items in her little

pink colander.  She had a few beaded bracelets

and woven bracelets and a couple of fun size

chocolate bars that were so melted from the

heat.  Of course we bought things from her.

Her income will probably help her family to eat.

There are times, when I'm alone, and I look

 at my photos of the kids I've met around the

world and I weep.  They have no food, they

have no shoes, they have no chance for an

education. 

So in this holiday season, I have no enthusiasm

for battling lines and traffic to buy more stuff.

I'm staying home and decorating and baking

and spending time with those I love.

It's not about the stuff ~ it's about love.

And on Christmas morning when presents

are being unwrapped I hope my kids

recognize the gift they have been given by

having their eyes opened to the world.

Let's not forget other children, some may

not be halfway around the world, but in our

own backyard, especially in a bad economy,

who may not have food, or shoes or a gift

to open on Christmas.

Peace on Earth