Consider Yourself Lucky Poem by Jim Yerman

He was confused…perplexed…bewildered…having trouble finding his way
so he got down on his knees and he began to pray…

Dear God, he asked, what happens when I find a person whose life has intertwined with mine…
When I find a like this person…when I find this person to be kind?

A person I love to talk to, with whom I can share my hopes, my dreams…my fears
A person I love to listen to…whose smile can wipe away my tears?

What happens when I find someone who makes me want each moment not to end?

"THEN CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY…FOR YOU HAVE FOUND A FRIEND! "

And what if my feelings merge into love…and what if this person feels it too?

"THEN CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY…FOR LOVE HAS CHOSEN YOU? "

But what if this person is my same sex…or a different religion…or yellow, red or black?

"IT DOESN'T MATTER…DOES IT…IF THIS PERSON LOVES YOU BACK? "

"FOR WHEN YOU FIND A PERSON TO SHARE YOUR LOVE THROUGH LIFE AND ALL IT'S TESTS…

THEN EVERYDAY YOU ARE ALIVE….CONSIDER YOURSELF BLESSED."

But how can I love this person…when it is not what I've been taught?

And here God smiled….

"IF EVERYTHING YOU TOLD ME IS TRUE,

THEN I MUST ASK…

HOW CAN YOU NOT? "