An empathetic mindset and love are what we need for a better world.

It’s utterly monstrous weather out there. Each time the breeze touches my skin, I shudder and sneeze. I’m cuddled on the bed, clutching a phone in one hand in a dark room, too lazy to read or even find a light. No candlelight anyway. My windows and doors are shut tight, yet the cold still came through. I grab the blanket to cast it over the tips of my exposed foot. And to determine where the burst of wind came from. It’s a cold world, no doubt, and a dark one, for that matter. It’s a lonely world for those who can’t afford blankets.

People experiencing homelessness have nothing, literally. I’m left thinking of those who feel this cold but can’t afford a blanket or a roof. Life can be so cruel. I’m sure that someone needs help. Somewhere around the street corner, you will see them. I trust that some good people will consider giving out old blankets or getting new ones for those who can’t afford them.

From my bed, I wish for the stars on a freezing night. I don’t know; maybe they could somehow warm the night for people experiencing homelessness. I feel sickly: bitter-tongued, lazy, feverish, and with a headache, all signs and symptoms of a tropical illness. So no poetry for me tonight, just my thoughts and bed.

I ask myself: If I, under a roof, can feel this sinister cold, how will people experiencing homelessness manage? I hope that homeless children, women, and men are safe in this weather. It’s unusual for me to sleep without thinking and praying for the less privileged.

If you have a bed and a roof over your head, you should be super grateful. Let your empathy make people grateful to live. Remember the homeless in your prayers and almsgiving. Count your blessings. Remember to be a blessing to others.