Eliminate the complaints

Am I the only one who finds himself complaining about the smallest things? I complain about stupid things, like how I'm not going to eat chicken with bones because of the veins, not having the crust on my PB&J sandwich, or how I don't like to take cold showers. During Spring Break, I had the opportunity to join the University of Bridgeport on the Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans, Louisiana.

This was the most eye opening experience I ever had in my life. We volunteered at four different locations and out of all the locations, the one place that made the most impact on my life was the soup kitchen run by this lady named Natasha. She was your typical "hood auntie" but with the sweetest heart in the world. She was explaining to the group how people from all over come to eat everyday because they are either homeless or without money to buy food for their families (which almost made me and Colleen cry).

While I was on the food line on the second day, I saw a young boy (around seven or ten years old), with two teenagers. They all smelled like they hadn't taken a bath in a while and looked so hungry. I asked the little boy where his mother was and he said, "I don't know." That broke my heart in two. I can't even imagine what I would do without my mother or food or the ability to take a shower whenever I needed to.

Here I am, down and out, because I don't have what I want; butwhat I needed to realize is that I have what I need to survive. God has truly blessed me with a great foundation. When I need something whether it is a meal, a listening ear, a ride or company I have people like Christina, Corey, Jisca, Jenine, Lamont, Patrick, Eileen (mommy), and my mother-from-another-grandmother, Lisa Anderson to keep me grounded. Even as I'm growing into the businessman that I plan to be after college, God has placed two influential, loving people in my life, Dean of Students Kenneth Holmes and Assistant Dean of Students Edina Oestreicher, who in some ways I look at as "mom" and "dad". It wasn't easy being so far from home. When I started school they stepped in to guide me in the right path.   

My point is that I'm blessed and so are you. Sometimes we forget how easy we have it. There are people all around us who wish they were in our shoes. If you live off or on campus you're blessed; the key word is live. You have breath in your body helping you to function, which means you are blessed.

Matthew 5:3-7:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {4} Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. {5} Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. {6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. {7} Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Peace and Bowties

Preacher Dude,

Malakhi RL Eason