Creatures of Comfort

My children and I are working on the habit of courtesy.  If you meet my children - don't expect anything revolutionary - we have been through many habits that we are continuing to work on!  As a part of this study this past week we read a poem by Phoebe Law:

One reason it is so cold is because the dust blocks the sun

Guess People Are Funny

There used to be talk around this town, 

Of the terrible water we had.

Folks said it was ruining our progress,

And for business it was bad.

We griped about the plumbing,

And how it rusted out so fast. 

Always buying new water heaters,

Cause the old ones wouldn't last.

We carried water from cistern wells,

For making our coffee and tea.

Some hadn't been cleaned in thirty years,

And unhealthy as could be.

Now that we have this good, clean water,

Don't hear much about it anymore.

I wonder if folks have forgotten

Just what it was like before?

We just neglect to express our thanks,

When things are bright and sunny.

But when things are wrong, then we complain.

Guess people are sure funny.

People are the same everywhere - we forget the difficulties when it gets easy and everyone wants to make their life more comfortable.  But in this comfort, the people in the Sahel amaze me, as most of them live outside in 55 degrees as well as 120. Some don't even own a coat - dressing the same in this 65 degree differential - and they wake up and bathe with water either from the tap or water that has been sitting out in 55 degree temps!  They use outdoor bathrooms - if they have one. Outdoor kitchen. Outdoor family room. A straw or mud brick wall house. Dust everywhere.  In the US we spend a bit of time bundled up in the cold, walk to our cars, and go into our homes that are the same temperature give or take 10 degrees all year round. Here the house temperature varies by more than 60 degrees over the year!  Our house is made of concrete and because of size it doesn't change temperature as quickly as outside.  We probably get 35-40 degree differentials.  I know I wouldn't want to live in 60 degree differentials.  

We are creatures of comfort and we take our comfort for granted.  I have so much to remember to be grateful for!

-- La Maestra