In my little sojourn in life, I have learnt that in order to receive more, we must show gratitude for the little we have. Everybody appreciates a show of gratitude from someone they have been nice to. Gratitude is most often exhibited by saying ‘Thank You’, however, there are many other ways in which it could also be expressed.
Our fathers expect us to show some gratitude for sending us to the best of schools (atleast, the very best they can afford), Our mothers expect us to show gratitude for cooking for us, Our husbands expect us to show gratitude for providing for us, Our wives expect us to show gratitude for taking care of the home and the children and much more. Everywhere we turn, nice gestures are expected to be received with gratitude. The truth is, we get so used to having these people or these things in our lives and forget to take time out to be thankful. We get so busy with trying to live and acquire or achieve more that we forget to say ‘Thank You’ for the good things of life that we are opportuned to have already. We get so busy asking God for a ‘Son’, that we forget to thank him for the spouse and daughter we have. We get so busy asking for a brand new car, we forget to thank him for our tokunbo ‘Hala’, for it’s only a stepping stone to greater heights. We get so busy asking God for new shoes that we forget to thank Him for our feet. We get so consumed with looking for another job that we forget to show gratitude for the job we have now (for atleast, it pays the rent).
For those of us that are spiritually inclined, we can boldly say that gratitude provokes more. It creates room to receive more. Do you want to be financially abundant? Then, be grateful. Thank God for the little you have. You might not have the house of your dreams, but atleast you’re not sleeping under the bridge. You might not have the house you prayed for, but atleast you have a wife and kids. There’s so much we should be thankful for and show it too. Show gratitude to God who has provided us with so much and also show gratitude to the people He has blessed us with. We need to be thankful for even the seemingly insignificant things that life has blessed us with, for only then can we provoke more into our lives.
I’ll just leave you with the brief poem(not written by me) below:
I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT’S HOT DOGS TONIGHT
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE
FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS
FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS
FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH
FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A CAR
FOR MY HUGE ELECTRICITY BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM COOL AND COMFORTABLE
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR
FOR MY PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF AND GETS ME UP
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE
AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.
I AM THANKFUL, ARE YOU?
Derin
