Reader shares heartwarming 'thankful' story

To the Editor:

I want to share a story about being thankful and being grateful for what you have.

I felt it was appropriate this being the holiday season.

I have a friend who we'll call "Liz."

She is a woman of amazing faith and strength.

Liz has children, but she and her kids are on their own now.

They once lived a "normal" life, in a nice house, with an automobile and all the comforts of home.

Liz also had a husband.

But all that is different now.

Her tiny family has been through a lot.

Unfortunately, this compassionate and caring woman doesn't have a job.

She has some health problems which require surgery.

But after her divorce, she lost her health insurance.

She is in constant pain.

Her family lives in poverty.

Yes, in this day and age, with all that is available to us, it seems bizarre at times that people still have to live this way.

We all know that thins happen but it is just so sad to know that people live in these dire conditions.

While some of us live in comfort and our most important decision of the week may be what kind of car to purchase, or what new cell phone to buy or maybe even what Christmas gifts to buy for our loved ones, my friend is dealing with no running water and having no heat.

She has no car because hers broke down.

Her children don't have the luxury of cable or Internet like most of us do.

I just feel very strongly that we should always remember to be thankful for everything we have.

Even just the basic necessities of life are a blessing.

They could be gone at any moment.

No one knows that better than "Liz."

Ruby Rogers,

Brazil