Blessings

This week has been really crappy in a lot of ways. I realized that I literally have no money, as in my bank account overdrew so I have $10 to my name right now. (It's a long story, my own stupidity I suppose, whatever.) I have had tests and papers and stories...all worth significant portions of my grades. This was our first week as an executive board with RallyCats, so I have had to get committee chair applications and structure done. I've been planning the Sigma Sigma carnival booth, price checking promotional items for RallyCats, and my dog has been staying with me all week, which means I have to get up earlier to feed her and take her out and come home more often to check on her. One of my best friends and I have been kind of shaky over the last week, and I have hardly seen or talked to the others. Lots of things have continued to build up inside of me, like a need for companionship and love beyond friendship, the lack of respect I feel from some people, and some other things. I've been so depressed, on the verge of tears, thinking about how much my life sucks because I'm going to have to ask my parents, who don't have a lot of money themselves, to loan me a substantial amount of money, I'm single and getting very sick of it, and wondering what in the world is wrong with me.

Then today I went to Over-the-Rhine to do some interviews for my environmental reporting class. When I was down there, I saw what real poverty is. The volunteers were planting gardens so that the people in the community could have vegetables to eat, cleaning up the garbage so people don't have to live in filth, and I started thinking. Yeah, I don't have any money right now. I'm in debt anyway because of school loans and my parents would love to help me pay for school, but they can't. But I am going to college. I do have family and friends who love me. I never went without as a kid. My parents had very little money, but they made sure my brother and I had everything we needed and most of what we wanted. I got to play premier soccer and my parents paid for uniforms, tournaments, new cleats every year, hotels, and came to all my games. So even though life might suck a little right now and asking my parents for money is going to be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, I'm still extremely blessed.

God gave me a pretty awesome life. I have two bad knees, but I can walk. I can still play soccer. I broke my arm pretty badly, but I can still swim and just about anything else. I have no money, but I'm getting a college education. I have a bed to sleep in, a home to live in, food to eat. I have friends and family who are willing to help me out and always support me. And I know He is apparent in even the little ways. After I realized that I had no money in my bank account, I found a $20 bill in my pocket, which has gotten me through this week. I had literally just filled my tank up with gas, and actually had thought about not filling it, just getting like a half a tank, but went ahead and filled it, so I have enough gas that I can drive to work and back tomorrow. My parents are coming through today, so I'll be able to talk to them in person about my problems. I got a check from the university, plus I'll be getting a paycheck from athletics next week and a paycheck from King's Island soon. I'm thankful for all that I have, and even though life is hard an sucks sometimes, I can make it through. People much worse off than me have done it, and I refuse to get beat. Here we go...

In prayer,
T