Down on my Luck

So, everyday as I am driving to work I pass by this one corner and there is always a homeless person standing there with some sign that says Please Help. I know I should be more Christlike, but it is starting to get to me. There is this one guy that is there probably 4-5 times a week and he has been around for @ 3 months. His sign says "Down on my luck". The other day he was looking at me while I was stopped waiting for traffic to clear and I just about rolled down the window-not to give him money, but to yell at him. I wanted to tell him it has nothing to do with luck. 4 days a week I pack up my kids, I drive across town so my sisters can watch them and I go to work. Do I want to do it? Is it always easy or enjoyable to work and keep up with the demands of life and family? No, but Jeff and I are not where we are because of luck. We are making it work, because we struggle and we work real hard to provide for our family. I don't believe that people end up where they are because of chance or fate. We all make choices.

Granted, I know hard times come and we don't always choose the bad things that happen to us, but we have the right to choose how to respond to them. You either let life take over or you take control of your life. Jeff was laid off from his job last week. That is two lay offs in less than one year. I had my moment-self pity, and all that comes with that. The fears about the future, the holidays, the bills, the upcoming baby and loss of health insurance. The list goes on and on and I struggled with the reasoning of why this would happen to us again. But, I am thankful for a husband that knows how to pray, ask for help, pick himself up, get a job and get to work. I am one of those that wants to wallow for a little while. I get angry and confused. Two days after the lay off I had to teach a lesson in Relief Society about being Thankful on a daily basis. It was that lesson that helped me see that I am so blessed. I have what I need and my faith is strong that we will get through this. I know that the Lord is looking out for us, he cares and I can feel his love for me. I don't understand or know how things will end up, but we will be okay-I am sure of that.