By Les Morgan, D. Min.
Have you ever been around someone who is known for having a complaining, griping spirit? It’s about as exciting as learning you are having warm, wilted lettuce for lunch. When you see a complainer coming toward you in the grocery store, you quickly look for a cardboard box in the aisle to hide under. Seeing their name on your caller ID on the phone can tempt even the best of us to rip the phone line right out of the wall.
I’m not sure who wrote the following poem, but she is an honest person and transparently tells her need to have an attitude adjustment. Take a moment and see if this is your experience, too.
Today, upon a bus, I saw a very
beautiful woman and wished I were
as beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch.
Bus as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs; the world is mine.
I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it’d do no harm
And as I left, he said to me,
“I thank you, you’ve been so kind.
It’s nice to talk with folks like you.
You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes; the world is mine.
Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child I knew.
He stood and watched the others play,
But he did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
“Why don’t you join them dear?”
He looked ahead without a word.
I forgot, he couldn’t hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears; the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I’d go,
With eyes to see the sunset’s glow,
With ears to hear what I’d know,
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I’ve been blessed indeed, the world is mine.
If this poem makes you feel thankful, smile at the first 10 people you see. The impact will be notable. Besides that, it will make people wonder what you’ve been doing (HA!)