My heart is longing to return to the place I love.

Where the people are grateful

And life is so simple

It hurts to be here,

in a place where we have so much.

Where we groan when the food is taking too long to come out,

where a five-year-old car is too outdated to drive,

and where our closets are never full enough.

It hurts to be one of the people who feed into the materialism,

when there are more important needs to be met.

I think about all of the children

Who walk to school with holes in their shoes

While I'm buying my third pair of shoes this month.

I think about the mothers

Who long to have food to cook for their families

While I'm throwing away plates because I'm not feeling chicken tonight.

I think about the students

Who are thankful for a notebook and pencils

While I must have the newest MacBook.

I think about the families

Who walk miles to get clean water

While I only want to drink it if it's in a trendy water bottle.

I think about the teenage girl

Who just wants a skirt that fits her for school

While I buy new clothes at the drop of a hat.

I can't stop thinking about these people

Who just want the necessities of life

While I am living in such a greedy mindset

That wants and wants and wants

No matter how much I already have.

My heart longs to return to the place that I love,

Where the people are so grateful

And life is so simple.