To be grateful

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. 
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” 
― Thomas Merton

"Thank You!" is one of the most common phrases uttered in various ways, languages and occasions in daily life.  It is also a very basic prayer stance when a person is overwhelmed and overshadowed by the love of God and His many blessings.  The year 2014 is almost over and everybody is preparing to peek into the New Year 2015 once its doors are opened wide.  I am taking speedy effort to write something here since it has been quite a while that I have come home to my own blog, rest for a while and gain new wisdom and insight.

Every day there is an abundance of God's blessings to be grateful for.  An ongoing attitude of gratitude is a mark of an "Anawim", a biblical image of those who rely solely on God and who keep total trust and confidence on Him.  Life, the whole of human existence and its colorful paraphernalia of activities and experiences is a pure gift of God.  God is the breath of life, the "Ruah" of all living beings.  Living a life based on the belief and conviction that God is the giver and author of everything is the entry towards living a full, joyful and grateful life.

Personally, as I review for a brief moment, the passages of my own life's journey, I cannot help but sing my own song of praise and thanksgiving to God for being there for me every step of the way.  God was there during the moment of my birth in "karma".  God was present during those first days of motherly love and care given to me.  God was there when at barely eight months, I was taken over by my grandmother to nurse and babysit me until I grow older.  God was there in my growing up years.  He was there in my studies.  He was there in my great moments of being ordained to the Catholic priesthood and sent to the missions.  God was there in my becoming a Benedictine monk for some time.  God was there in my decision to get married.  God was there in my finding a work and waiting for my wife to come to the U.S. and join me.  God is here with us, as we live day by day working, loving and caring for each other and our folks back home in the Philippines.  For all of these, my heart sings a song of thanks to God for all His love and blessings.

In many ways I am still an imperfect human being living in a strange and imperfect world.  Yes, I believe in God's guidance and help in my daily journey of faith.  Every new day, I open up my heart and mind to His guidance, stirrings and direction.  I know I am trudging along the road of many surprising twists and turns, of many challenges and moments of fulfillment and satisfaction.  I am very grateful for my wife, my friends and family members who are still there a call or a message away, to encourage me when I am down, to support me when I am weary, and to challenge me to grow when I am stalled and stuck up.

Gratitude has been my song, gratitude is still my song, and gratitude will always be my song.  The more I stay grateful, the more I grow in love and faith in the God of my own understanding.  Here I am Lord, grateful for your love and ready to embark on the service of love wherever I go out of love for you and gratitude for everything!