L'erba del vicino e sempre piu verde.

In Italian today we read a poem.  At first it made no sense.  Partly because it's in Italian and in part because it just really made no sense. 


Basically this is what it said.


To the river: "Let me pass!"
Responded the river: "Where are you going?  Along with the men and women?  The ox bellows also and the mosquitoes sting.  
What do you hope for?  The same water, sweet, to love, along my other bank!  It is the day, it is beautiful.  The air stirs itself, the fabulous woods, what do you think.
Always the other bank is what you crave, man.  The well-lost or vainly waited.  Me, cold, between the dreamer and the dream.
Always suspended high above your head your fate, if you go, if you stay.  For each road to be dragged along, again, your turmoil."


Once I understood what it was saying, I began to think.  


So often we look at what we have and see that it's not good enough.  We see what we're lacking and what we are longing for.  We set goals because we aren't happy with what we have.  Not that progression isn't good, but often we hope to be thinner, richer, etc.  We are so focused on where we're lacking that we don't see our blessings.  When we really do have issues, we think that then we don't need to work to make it better.  We think that we just need to change something minor, say just the right thing, and our lives will be perfect.  


It's time for all of us to see what we have and be grateful.  Truly and honestly thankful for all we have in our lives.  Stop protesting that things aren't fair.  If you really don't like the way something is in your life, do something about it.  Make goals that will enhance the joy you already have sitting right in front of you but make sure they aren't vain or completely self-serving.


"When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer—no matter how eloquent the oration." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf 


And remember, the grass really isn't always greener on the other side.