Old Cowbelle: Half Full or Half Empty

• Ina Murray

Ina Murray

Talk about it

People see things so differently, some see a glass of water “half full” and others see it “half empty.”

We call Wednesday “hump day” because it is the half-way mark to the weekend, when we can relax a little. Some only think of how long the rest of the week will seem; I guess it all depends on our outlook on life. Optimism or pessimism.

I like to call February “hump month” because it seems that winter is about half over, maybe a little more than half. Some think of it as most of the winter is still to come. And some of it will. Even in March

(kind of a spring month), we usually have at least one big snow storm.

Already, the days stay light a little longer and will continue to do so.

I think it’s fun to look forward to the snow melting and the smell of “earth” coming through, and patches of green showing through the snow melting on the lawn. I like to see the first green buds on the branches of the maple tree that overhangs the east deck. And I look forward to the first pale green showing on the shrubbery down in the ravine below the house.

It seems to happen so slowly and then, all of a sudden, we have full summer (with storms, lawn mowing and air conditioning).

But as long as winter remains, I think I will “kick back” and enjoy the warmth of a wood fire; read, write, send and receive e mails, watch politics on TV, diet (unsuccessfully); enjoy being too old to do a lot of hard work. (Eternally grateful, again.)

All the while, I will feel a little guilty for being so comfortable (and well cared for by my children), while around the world, some people are suffering, from cold and hunger and abuse.

I know, life isn’t fair. It just is what it is.

I received the following prayer from two good friends, Dorothy and Joyce, many years ago. It seems to fit me even more now than those years ago:

Dear God:

So far today, I’ve done alright.

I haven’t gossiped.

I haven’t lost my temper.

I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, unpleasant, selfish or overindulgent.

I am very thankful for that.

Bur in a few minutes, God

I am going to get out of bed;

And from then on,

I’m probably going to need a bit more help.

Amen

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