I really don't want to whine.

Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair.

I envied her, she seemed so gay, and wished I was as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobbled down the aisle.

She had one leg and wore a crutch.

And as she passed... a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two legs, the world is mine

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm.

I talked with him, he seemed so glad.

If I were late, it'd do no harm.

And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you've been so kind.

It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,

I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play.

He did not know what to do.

I stopped a moment and then I said,

"Why don't you join the others, dear?"

He looked ahead without a word. And then I knew,

he couldn't hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go.

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine........

I’ve had this poem, handwritten on a piece of yellow paper, for as long as I can remember. An internet search came up with some controversy as to who wrote it. Most sources said that the author is unknown, but several sites credited Red Foley, a country singer from the forties and fifties. I would like to give proper credit, but all I can tell you for sure is that this poem is pretty old, I’ll bet even older than me.

The last week or so, I’ve fallen into the state of “feeling sorry for myself”. I know that we have all been there. I hate that feeling. Working in the medical field, not a single day doesn’t go by that I don’t look at a patient and think to myself, “I am so glad that I’m not you.” I wish I could tell you their stories, but basically, it doesn’t take much to look around and see someone who is having a worse day than I am. So why is it still so easy to whine when things in my own life aren’t going the way I wanted? Lord, please forgive me.