The most precious gift

Life, every single moment of it, is a precious gift that can be taken away at any time. Just being alive is an awesome privilege, as is every single thing we have the opportunity to do. We live in a dangerous deadly world, where through accident, disease, natural causes or even malice any person's life can end at any time. Yet most people treat every day life as if it is no big deal. They take it for granted.

You might say that life is not as dangerous as it used to be. We no longer live outside amongst the wild animals that would do us harm. And in our homes we are safe from many of the environmental dangers that are out there. Yet for each thing that we have used technology to save us from we have built two or more things just as bad if not worse than what threatened us in the first place.

Let's just take the invention of 2,000 pound wheeled metal boxes that routinely travel in excess of sixty miles an hour and are frequently operated by people of questionable mental health. In the United States alone there are hundreds of millions of these potentially lethal weapons. And cars go through brick walls fairly easily. What in the animal kingdom compares with that?

The ability to smell sewage is a privilege. Because if you did not have it you would not have the ability to smell things you loved such as foods you enjoy, perfumes, or the scent of your mate.

The ability to see horrible nightmarish things is a gift,  because it is tied to the ability to be able to see beautiful wondrous things.

The ability to feel pain, and harsh abrasives is a privilege because without it you would not be able to feel pleasure or softness.

Being able to hear the terrible cacophony of sound that your neighbor's call music is a gift because without that gift you could not hear the sound of your children's laughter or the voices of your friends.

Tasting foods you do not like is a privilege because if you could not then you would also not be able to enjoy the foods that you do.

Many people hate their jobs. But the opportunity to work, the opportunity to support yourself and those you love is also a gift, whether you like your job or not.

Every single thing that you perceive with your senses is both a gift and a privilege, as is every single thing that you do or can do. Even the things that you do not like. It is a privilege simply that you can do them. Because when you die it is all over. At that point you no longer have the faculties required to do or enjoy any good thing.

Also consider this, there are a great number of handicapped people in this world that would gladly trade places with you. Many of the things that you complain about being forced to do, they would quite happily jump at the opportunity to be able to do.

So the next time you go to complain about something that you "have" to do, think instead of how grateful you should be that you can do that thing.