Back Into Perspective

Sometimes you just have a bad day. Nothing really in particular, just a lot of little things along with a body telling you it doesn't like the changes you are making.  That would be my day today.
        I want to start by saying that I sort of feel guilty about being in this "mood".  I have so much to be thankful for and truly I am thankful.  Things could be much worse. I was reminded of that today when I learned that one of our students' mother died unexpectedly today.  That in itself is sad, but add to that that this little girl and her family have been through so much already.  The little girl, in the 3rd grade, had been fighting cancer.  She just went back to St. Jude and found out her cancer is back.  Now today, her mother was found at her home and had died. I don't know many details, but I am so very sad for this family. Having learned about this, I didn't feel that my petty problems even deserved acknowledgement.
                   I didn't have a good day because I gave in to temptation and at a lemon poppyseed muffin AND a cupcake a little girl brought me.....OH......forgot about the banana bread another student brought...yep ate that too! I was FURIOUS with myself at the end of the day.  I had already decided I would just finished the day off by eating whatever I wanted.  Then, I got the news about the student's mom and just decided that I was grateful to HAVE food, my health, and my precious children, husband and family! Minor things like weight loss are nothing in comparison to the problems people face in this world.  Makes me feel so shallow! 
         Tonight I pray for the family and their loss. I pray for the children whose mother is no longer there with them. I pray for their little hearts to heal and that God will be with them and comfort them.  I pray for other children in my school who go home to problems beyond their control. Children that may not have food to eat, running water or electricity. Children who have their little hearts filled with such sadness, fear and worry.  As a teacher, one thing I have learned over time is that school, for some children, is more than just a place to get an education. School for these children is a place to feel safe and to eat the only meals they will have that day. 
         I will go to bed tonight knowing that there are far worse things out there than having a hard time losing weight.  I am so very thankful that my problems are so trivial in comparison to so many out there.  Thank you God for the blessings in my life.