The Things We Take For Granted

Written November 24, 2009

Their eyes grew wide and big smiles appeared on their dark, exhausted, loving faces. These women were truly happy and truly proud…

Growing up people at church and school and your parents remind you not to take things for granted. They tell you stories of people losing homes, family members, or even limbs.  We all could tell stories of things we took for granted and then lost.  The other night I experienced a different side of taking things for granted… the joy of when you don’t.  Since Tara has been here at ECTC she has been involved in a ministry with the women who work in the kitchen; she has built strong relationships with each one of them. Tara decided that because she was leaving ECTC and these women that she wanted to give a picture to each one of the women. As she handed each one of them a picture, an expression of joy covered up the evidence of paining backs and exhausted brows.  They were so proud of their new little treasures.  A picture of their very own- that picture is the first picture most of them have ever owned.  These are women in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.  I was so thankful that I had the privilege of seeing their proud faces and experiencing that joy with them.  Let’s go back the basics today- what is something that we have been taking for granted that once was a source of pride and joy?