Some Perspective

Maybe a month or two ago, I bought Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to read with Mason. It might have had something to do with the fact that one of his classmates is already reading the Harry Potter series on his own. Like devouring it. By himself. At five years old. Anyhow, since I have never actually read the book, but I love the movies, I decided it was a good place to begin Mason's foray into chapter books.
So, the movies show that Charlie Bucket and his family are poor, but it doesn't go anywhere near showing the depth of the stark, depressing poverty described in the book. There is a whole chapter, right before Charlie finds the ticket, that is all about how Charlie is slowly starving to death. It was pretty heavy for Mason to grasp, especially since he didn't even really know about the concept of poverty before we started reading this book. It was hard for me to read, and then explain the more difficult ideas, to Mason because it is just such a sad idea - er, rather, such a sad reality. Then I read this line, and it really touched me: ". . . and because we are all a great deal luckier than we realize, we usually get what we want - or near enough" (Dahl 38). [MLA, yo!]
How true is that? I mean, how many of us just fail to realize how truly lucky we are to have enough food to eat, or a home that protects us from the elements, or a jacket to wear when it's cold outside, or good books to entertain our minds? How many of us (myself especially included) only see the things we don't have, the things we'd like to get, the next thing we "need". Then when we get "it", whatever it may be, do we really take the chance to reflect on how lucky we are to have it?
I am grateful for my comfortable life, where all of my needs and nearly all of my wants are satisfied. I am grateful that I don't have to watch my child slowly grow thinner and thinner because I just can't afford to feed him enough to keep him healthy and strong. I am grateful for my husband who works hard to provide for us and take care of us. We truly are luckier than we realize.