Catholic Singles

Thank God
BY: MARK ANTHONY ROSOLOWSKI

The alarm clock rings every morning and after hitting the snooze button three, or four times, you finally throw the blankets off. Then you sit up, stretch, put on your slippers. You walk to the bathroom, mumbling about the night being so short, not getting enough sleep, and cursing about the upcoming day at work. The day has a miserable start. The day starts miserable because you did not THANK GOD.

As you shower you think of the upcoming day more, the meetings, the schedules, the confrontations that are inevitable and the long drive and the traffic. You think this is going to be a lousy day, the problem is you did not THANK GOD.

You eat a hurried breakfast, mumbling about not having anytime and leaving late again, you will have to rush just to catch up. You get into your, race out of your driveway and race down the street. You pull into the deli's parking lot run in pushing past people as you enter, thinking to yourself, can't they see I am in a hurry, you get your coffee, spilling half of it. You refill the cup cursing about the day, how rotten it is. Maybe you forgot to THANK GOD.

You finally get out of the deli cursing more because you are even later thanks to those slow jerks behind the counter. You jump into your car, and race out into the traffic, lousy school busses, got to wait for the kids to get in the bus, you blow your horn, hurry up. The bus slowly moves and you race past it so you do not have to stop again. Maybe the red flashing lights were a reminder to THANK GOD.

Finally, you are at work, you rush into the office sit down and realize you left your coffee in the car, you return to your car getting the coffee, and return to your office you sit down and begin to work, it is then that you notice the others in the office are smiling and laughing, you wonder what makes their day so good when yours is so bad. You work through lunch because you want to make sure you get out on time, work never ends. Maybe lunch time would be a time to THANK GOD.

You head home at the end of the day in a foul mood, the day was rotten, you feel like you did not accomplish anything. As you are driving you see couples walking on the sidewalk holding hands and smiling, lovers laughing, enjoying the day. You mumbled why do they get to enjoy themselves, you get angry. Take time out, THANK GOD.

You arrive at home, go inside, you go sit in your recliner and fall asleep, in your dream you see yourself waking up as the alarm rings, as you shut it off you hear the birds singing. You see yourself smiling, as you sit up, you hear your children in their rooms laughing and talking, you smile knowing they are safe and warm. You look over and see your spouse stirring, you take a moment and you say "Thank You, God", for all you have been given.

In your dream you see yourself in the shower, you feel the hot water. You feel the warmth of the entire house, then as you dress your spouse comes in gives you a hug and kiss, your kids rush in squealing to kiss and hug you, as they exit you realize true riches come from love, you look up and say a quiet "Thank You, God".

You walk out of the room, grab your breakfast and look at your watch, you are running late, but you make sure you hug and kiss your family, as you leave the house you think, how lucky you are to have what you have, you look up and say "Thank You, God".

As you drive to work, you get stuck in traffic, you see this as a time to say a quick prayer, to keep your contact with God open. As you pull into the deli, you say good morning to everyone you pass, you exchange smiles, shake hands, as you pay for your coffee you wish the clerk a good day, seeing how hurried they are with the rush of morning business, as you walk to your car you take a moment, "Thank You, God", for all you see and hear and the people who touch your life.

You drive to work, in an unhurried fashion, you get stuck behind a school bus, watch as the children get on, you think of your own children, you ask God to keep them safe. When you arrive at work you see you have time to spare, you walk into the office, you joke about how forgetful you are as you go back to get your coffee. You spend time talking with your co-workers, you hear a young mother laughing about what her child did yesterday, you smile and laugh as well. You say a quick, "Thank You, God", for the moments you can spend with friends and sharing their lives.

You do your morning work, a group asks you to join them for lunch, you know you have to get the work done, but people are more important, plus you can stay a few minutes late if you have to. You go to lunch, as you walk back, you look up, "Thank You, God", you have been nourished and feel satisfied.

You finish your work, leave a few minutes late, as you drive home you see couples walking hand in hand, hugging each other, you see...

Suddenly you are awakened by your children running into the room, giving you hugs and kisses, you get out of your chair walk into the kitchen, and take your spouse's hand, you bring the person close embrace and kiss the one you love, you remember the dream, you look up and with a tear in your eye, you say, "Thank You, God", you continue with "I am sorry I have forgotten you, but Thank You for all you have given me and from now on I will say THANK YOU GOD".

If we all take a few minutes everyday to do something as simple as thanking God, our lives, would be so much better, so when you are frustrated, stop, look, listen and THANK GOD, for all the miracles in you life.