My grandmother told me a story about her art teacher, who she met in Seattle. Her name was Llona and she was a beautiful artist. She had escaped from her home in Hungary during World War II. She found her way to Seattle, where she opened an art gallery and taught art classes as well. This woman shared a new perspective with her class. Llona said she loved the idea of being barefoot and that she was finally able to experience this in America. She lived in extreme poverty while in Hungry. Her house supported wooden floors, but not like the wooden floors that we have. The wood of her floor was rough. Long splinters stood up perpendicular to the floor. With theses painful shards scatter throughout her home, shoes were a necessity. She had to wear shoes in the comfort and refuge of her home. She was not able to experience the simple pleasure of being barefoot in her dwelling place.

This hit me hard. I love being barefoot. I am tempted to call it a passion of mine. If I do not absolutely have to wear shoes, I will be barefoot. I could not imagine the feeling of not being able to have my feet bare as I walk through my living room.

I have thought about the people around the world that do not own shoes and I have thanked God that I do have shoes on my feet. However, I can honestly say that I have never said thanks to God for the opportunity to be barefoot in my own house. It is a huge blessing that I have taken for granted. The more I thought about this, the more things I realized I do not take time to be grateful for. Being barefoot, owning a toothbrush, having air conditioning, the list is endless. These things that bring simple joy to my life are often looked past. I have no entitlement to these things, they are simply gifts from our Heavenly Father.

I want to encourage you to be thankful for what you have because many people are not as fortunate. Focus on the blessings that you hold and it makes them that much more beautiful. Pray for those who have not yet experienced these blessings.

Like my aunt says, let us pray that all the people have peace in their minds, love in their hearts, and food in their tummies.