Simply Thankful

Our campus minister, who happened to be also my dear Spanish instructor, told me that being thankful to the littlest things in life will help me make a 360-degree turn, in terms of my perception of life. Being thankful for the clean air, for the tap water that reaches our  home, for the decent meals I share with my family in our dinner table, these things are often overlooked when appreciating life.

Many times, I have complained about the trivial things like the heat, the difficulties of learning to speak Spanish, NJ’s “toy installations” in the living room, the sweat and the remains of a good meal on my collar and pants. I always find it easy to complain about things, which sometimes makes me feel a bit discontented about my life. Although I have all the things I needed to thrive, I seem to have acquired a habit of complaining. This Christmas, I want to be more appreciative and thankful for everything that God has given me. I am thankful for the love that people has bestowed upon me. I am thankful for the true friendship that strengthened me. I am thankful for the people who have wronged me deeply, because they convinced me that somehow some way, God exacts justice where it is needed be, because in the end, I was the one who ended up polished and gleaming and happy. Things simply go back to where they belong. No matter how much difficulty, hardship or pain I have suffered, what’s important is the person that these things made me become – stronger, driven, better, though a bit feisty.

I have learned to look at the good things that come out of the bad things. I have learned to see hope in frustration. I have seen consequences with offenses. I have seen fairness.  For all these things, I am thankful.