Hello to you – how are you? I’m awake early this morning – second morning in a row. The abilify doesn’t make me feel as sleepy as the olanzapine did. I’m still taking Depakote and it makes me hungry! I want to make breakfast but the ants have returned to my kitchen again – pain in the butts! The All Natural Pest Control people are scheduled to come out this morning.

This morning my thoughts turn to people in survival mode – so many! I am so blessed to have a roof over my head, food to eat, clean water, clothing, reliable transportation, medical insurance and even a dog! So many people in our country – in this world – don’t have any of these things! I watch reels on Facebook where a guy named Knate reaches out to people on the street who are struggling. It’s beautiful and sad to see. I used to work at a food bank in Melbourne Florida called The Daily Bread. I helped bus tables, prepare and serve food to the poor and homeless. It was very rewarding but sad at the same time. So many people came there – needed shower facilities. Families with young children were especially hard to see. The people on staff were so pleased with my work there that they asked me to join them in a managerial position and I just couldn’t do it. I just wanted to help not take on a job as I was transitioning out of the military at the time.

We are a world filled with more consumers than helpers – is that because more people need help? I wonder! When I think of the word helper I think of Mr. Fred Rogers. I was raised to be a helper but I have always had enough of everything. Both my parents worked so that was possible. I am white, was born in the Midwest and was raised as an only child in the Roman Catholic faith. I had everything I needed except may be my parents time – they worked so much. I didn’t know homelessness or hunger – poverty except through the church and it’s missions. Now the streets of our major cities are lined with all of those things AND substance abuse. It makes me think of the videos of The Great Depression.

https://youtu.be/-LGHtc_D328 – Fred Rogers: Look for the Helpers

Galatians 6:2New International Version

² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.