I peeled a banana for breakfast. The fruit was flawless. I’m picky about my bananas. I don’t like them underripe, but overripe bananas are also dealbreakers.
My taste buds danced with delight because perfect bananas are rare. But as I peeled down to expose the last few bites, two bruises polluted the landscape of my tropical treat. The breakfast of perfection had crashed.
The morning had started well, but now self-pity crept into my bones. Then suddenly, my heart shifted as I remembered that about 75 percent of the world lives on less than two or three dollars daily. I replaced my hat of grumpitude with a hat of gratitude.
The shudders of my soul opened wide as I grasped the joy many would have for my banana. Images of starving people sprang to the surface of my mind. A few seconds later, I pondered the world’s war-torn regions, where food is in short supply.
What would people in such situations do to have a banana? Any banana, let alone an almost-perfect fruit. Streams of thankfulness washed over me like a waterfall, and I will forever remember this gift of perspective. Every day, I choose between self-pity and gratitude. I can either drown in oh-poor-me and grumpitude or focus on blessings.
Now, whenever I see a banana, my heart dances with the memory of how it changed my life. Let God change your perspective too.
Cherrie Herrin-Michehl is a writer.