Posted on by Jacquie Biggar

Counting my Blessings #Inspirational #Life


This holiday season I’m counting my blessings

With so much craziness in the world, I’m finding it more important than ever to be grateful for what I have such as a relatively healthy family, food for our tummies, and a warm roof over our heads.

There are many who lack these basic necessities, and there are those who take them for granted.

Here, in Victoria, we have an ever-increasing problem with homeless people. Some are caught in the opioid crisis. During 2020, there were a total of 6,214 deaths from opioid overdose in Canada, 1,738 of which occurred in the province of British Columbia. This statistic shows the number of deaths from opioid overdose in Canada in 2020, by province. https://www.statista.com/statistics/812260/number-of-deaths-from-opioid-overdose-canada-province/

Six thousand wives, husbands, brothers and sisters who will never have the chance to sit down to a family dinner and share laughter and love with their families ever again.

Some have mental health issues and can’t hold a job. Without proper care, they slip through an underfunded system and end up on the street, doing the best they can to simply survive.

And still others have lost their jobs (maybe due to the Covid crisis), or don’t make enough to pay the ridiculous rent required to live in so-called paradise. For them, life is a day-to-day fight for survival.

It’s basically a hand-to-mouth existence.

Think about that. Have you ever done without basic necessities like food and shelter?

There’s a young man down the road from us. He set up a small encampment of a grocery cart and tarp on a grassy verge intersecting two highways. His sign reads Broke & Hungry. He sits on the curb, head in hands, lost and hopeless.

I’ve seen many homeless people on our streets, but something about that young man breaks my heart. But for the grace of God, that could be me or mine. Sometimes, it’s a matter of circumstance.

I want to take this time to count my blessings and pray those who need a helping hand get the opportunity to turn their lives around.

Happy Thanksgiving ❤

49 Replies to “Counting my Blessings #Inspirational #Life”

  4. I also feel helpless when reading about the homeless and dispossessed. It is so easy to be judgemental, but we ALL need to ‘walk in others shoes’ for a while and do what we can, however seemingly small that may be. If only the billionaires gave a little more…No child should have to drink dirty water! Thank you Jacquie. x

    Liked by 3 people

  7. These are difficult times we live in. This was a precious reminder. It’s always good to count our blessings, to pray for those less fortunate, and to help when we can.

    Happy Thanksgiving. 🧡

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Homelessness isn’t a new problem, I realize that. I guess I never noticed how prevalent it is before we moved here.
      Between climate change with its job losses and Covid stress, it has become a serious issue- one that can’t be ignored any longer.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. It’s so sad and can be overwhelming. The opioid crisis has destroyed so many lives. Homelessness too, seems to be continually on the rise. Thank you for the heartfelt reminder post. I wish you a belated Happy Thanksgiving and I pray that those in need will find comfort.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Mae. There are efforts being made to get people off the street- hotel lodging, tiny homes- but it’s a drop in the bucket for those in need.
      They need to regain a sense of worth, to know they matter, if there’s to be any lasting change.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I’ve lived most of my life preparing to never have to face hunger or homelessness, being constantly diligent and careful. It’s worked so far but I feel for those who struggle with that. It’s that worst nightmare.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There was a senior husband and wife on the news the other night. They had worked hard all their lives and looked forward to enjoying their retirement until the husband became ill.
      They went through all of their savings for medication and special equipment and now, they face eviction from the home they rented for twenty years as it’s been sold (due to our inflated house prices).
      There is nowhere for them to go within their price range.
      This beautiful couple are only a matter of months from being homeless unless a miracle occurs, and they find a place to live.
      Fate can be a mean bugger.

      Like

  10. This year defines tragedy and sadness through every sick or desperate person. My heart goes out to all, and as it does, it breaks open even more – to the Divine, to goodness, to Love itself. We all need to step back and embrace gratitude and leave judgments behind. We are one family, and you’ve underscored that beautifully, Jacquie. Bless you. ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  12. That’s so sad, Jacquie. It’s bad here too in our small town. As many as are helped in our community there seems to be more to replce them and unfortunately fires follow. You are right it could be any of us in the right circumstances and we need to be grateful for all we are blessed with and help when we can.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. A beautiful post of thankfulness, Jacquie. A tear jerker too as I think about the loss of individual futures, the losses for those families, the hopelessness, and the homeless man with his head in his hands. We face the same here in the US, about 580,000 people without shelter, and that was pre-pandemic. Thanks for having such a big heart, my friend. You put everything in perspective. ❤ ❤ Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s a growing problem with no solution. Inflation and job losses are driving people from their homes (many are seniors), and unless you have a high school diploma it’s nearly impossible to get a job.
      The whole system needs an overhaul.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Well said, Jacquie. Any of us could end up in that situation with a break here or there against us. I’ve never quite understood the lack of compassion that I see from some people toward the homeless.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s people who don’t look beyond the surface, Pete. Every homeless person has a story, a family who loves them, or maybe suffered incredible loss. It’s up to us to see their sorrow and step up to the plate.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. HI Jacquie, I didn’t realise that Canada had such a big homeless problem. I thought people got help from the government in Canada like they do in the UK. Here in South Africa we have over 5 million people living on the streets and in squatter camps.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. As of 2019 we had over 235,000 homeless across the country, of which our winters are 6 months or more with temps as low as -30 to -40. Extremely dangerous. There are programs, but many don’t trust the government, exasperating the issue.
      I’m so sorry your country is suffering. No one should live in hunger.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Homelessness is such a heartbreaking reality, Jacquie. As many of our blogging friends in the US commented, we have big problems also. In Portland, Oregon where my daughter is, I saw tents everywhere on both sides of the freeway. The government tried to build box-type of shelters for them but I guess the program didn’t go anywhere.
    I have to admit that I’ve had never experienced ‘without.’ My family was poor when I was a child, so I’ve developed a hard-working and frugal lifestyle. But disasters happen to anyone at any time. I’m grateful for my family, for their safety, job security, and good health.
    Thank you for this sensitive post, Jacquie!

    Like

      1. Oh, wow! We have to visit you next time we come to Victoria. Did I tell you that our last visit without making hotel reservation turned out to be a Canadian holiday? We drove around until 1:00 a.m. and couldn’t find a hotel. We slept in the car in a winter cold.

        Liked by 1 person

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