It's sometimes odd what occurs to you in the middle of the night when you can not sleep.

 I am a notoriously bad sleeper. There are times when I wake up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason whatsoever, then I  begin thinking about things....ideas, people, et cetera...when then prevents me from getting back to sleep.

 So overnight, I had one of these spells and I began thinking about the idea of thankfulness and stopping to take stock of one's life. Do you do it? I try to daily...to keep things in perspective.

 I think about Mandy and Austin and Cameron and how lucky and fortunate I am to have them in my lives. Some people right now go home to an empty house and have little to no contact with anyone, let alone people who love them.

 I think about how thankful I am for my job, especially at a time when so many people are either unemployed or underemployed. I have a job I enjoy and I make a salary that allows me to support my family.

 I think about the freedom I have to practice my religion, knowing people worldwide are persecuted by governments or thugs who can't stand the thought or a higher power.

 I think about how good it is that Austin is excited about school and really wants to do well. I'll admit, when I was young, school seemed like a chore more than anything else. I was about as excited about it as I was folding socks. Austin has a true intellectual curiousity that I hope he keeps his entire life.

 I am forutnate that I have my health and that my wife and kids are healthy. I know so many people my age who have serious health issues that they are working to overcome. I do not have that burden and pray I never will.

 Look at the world around you and count your blessings, not your curses. Everyone has a certain level of challenge they must overcome daily. What you have to do is compare your challenges to others in society. Do yours measure up to theirs? Or are you realively well off but just think you're not?

 Would I like more time off with my kids? Yes. Would I like a bigger home? Sure. Would I like to be filthy rich? You bet. All of that said, the life that I have is good and I appreciate it. While I strive for things, I don't build my life around the fact that I don't have them. I focus on what I do have and how it's a lot more than some people have and that I am thankful to have it in the first place. But for a simple twists of fate, I could be single, no family, living alone, working at a job I hate. But I am not in that position.

 Every once in a while, I will say a prayer, sometimes to myself, sometimes out loud and it goes like this:

 "I love my life. I love my wife. I love my sons. I love my job. I am thankful for a roof over my head and food on the table. Thank you God for being so good to me."

 This is more than taking time to smell the roses. This is picking the rose, looking at it, appreciating it for what it is and not noticing the rose may have a few missing petals.

 Quote Of The Day: "The trick is to make sure you don't die waiting for prosperity to come." Lee Iacocca

 This Day In History: The famous debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln began in Illinois on this date, August 21st, 1858.

 Something You Should Check Out: Whenever I hear the song "Reign In Me", I feel amazingly thankful for my life. Whenever this song is performed at our church, I will tear up. It is such a great song. I hope you agree.

 Thanks for stopping by and taking time to make the blog part of your day. Feel free to leave a comment below or send me an e-mail by clicking here.

 Brian Allen KSFY