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G4EBT > POEM 01.02.09 02:36l 137 Lines 4740 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : E60168G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: On being worse off, KB2VXA
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0RGB<OE5XBL<OE6XPE<DB0RES<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 090131/2125Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:23634 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:E60168G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : POEM@WW
Warren KB2VXA wrote:-
> One such bit of commentary was about not complaining,
> someone always has it worse than you.
True.
When I'm performing some chore or another, or for example, getting
drenched to the skin in driving rain on the moors when a day out walking
started out sunny, I always try to think of worse things I rather not be
doing.
The sorts of jobs I'd hate to do, in no particular order are:
Carpet fitter:- Shifting furniture, lugging great rolls of unwieldy carpet
around, being on my knees all day using a "bumper" to stretch the carpet
etc.
Furniture Removal Man:- Packing stuff into a removal van with a family
under your feet saying "be careful with that, have you cleared bedroom one
yet...?" Then at the other end, "no - that goes in the dining room, and
this box is for the spare bedroom - won't that wardrobe go up the stairs -
mind the wallpaper please, have you found the kettle yet - why isn't the
electricity on?" Utter chaos, day in day out - all going on in the middle
of fractious domestic disputes.
TV aerial erector: Up and down ladders, on roofs in all weathers.
Then there are the jobs that someone has to do, as long as it's not you:
Slaughterman, or working on a meat production line killing chickens and
turning them into meat.
Working down the sewers.
Prison officer - among a load of no-hopers, often with mental and physical
illnesses and addictions. Seriously damaged goods - truly depressing.
Traffic Warden - a no-win situation. Under pressure from bosses,
being slagged off by often selfish motorists.
Doing security checks on airport passengers and their baggage.
Dire - thousands of people a day going here there and everywhere
while you're stuck there peering at a screen of an x-ray scan
of their shoes to see if a 7-yr old kid is a shoe bomber.
No wonder they look so miserable.
I'm sure there are lots more dreary jobs, but these are the ones I think
of to cheer myself up and get my happy face on if I'm a bit down in the
mouth doing something I'd rather not be doing:-)
And when I'm getting wet and cold on the moors, I think how privileged
I am to be able to be there, when lots of people can't get out of their
chairs unaided, or could only feel the rain on their cheeks - not see
it. Or people who pray for rain and their prayers are never answered.
All in all, it's a wonderful life!
As a child I attended Sunday School at a Methodist Chapel. All the hymns
they sang were joyful gospel type hymns not mornful, so I always enjoyed
a good sing-song. One of my favourites was "Count Your Blessings" - you
can't get more cheerful than this:
Verse 1
When upon life's billows You are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged Thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings Name them one by one,
And it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.
Chorus:
Count your blessings Name them one by one.
Count your blessings See what God hath done.
Count your blessings Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings See what God hath done.
Verse 2
Are you ever burdened With a load of care,
Does the cross seem heavy You are called to bear.
Count your many blessings Every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing As the days go by.
Verse 3
When you look at others With their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised You His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings Money cannot buy,
Your reward in heaven Nor your home on high.
Verse 4
So amid the conflict Whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged God is over all.
Count your many blessings Angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you To your journey's end.
Religious or not, it's an upfliting ditty.
It's been sung all over the world and I don't doubt that someone,
somewhere, reading this, won't be able to get the tune out of their
head now I've mentioned it!
Sorry about that:-)
It was written by Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr.- a prolific gospel song writer
of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born near Medford, New
Jersey, on April 21, 1856.
At the age of 19 he joined the Methodist Church and several years later
was granted a license to preach in local Methodist congregations. Though
he wrote over 5,000 hymn texts, he was busily engaged throughout his life
in a mercantile business and later as an administrator for a large
insurance company in New Jersey.
A remarkable chap.
Count your blessing, name them one by one...! Every day's a good
day while we're here. There are no bad days - it's just that some
are better than others.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 21:22 on 2009-Jan-31
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