RAIN OF GRATITUDE

Driving down the road to the office this morning, I was amidst feelings about the amount of money I had just withdrawn from the bank. This amount of money, little over the price of an iPod Classic of 250GB at the time of this writing, was just taken not because I wanted to get this iPod which I really desire to have but because it accounts for the full amount from one of my income streams. I wasn’t directly worrying about the amount but I could use some more.

This thought was running in the background under layers upon layers of several other things on my mind as I came to an intersection and had to make a stop behind a car that was trying to buy newspapers from a vendor. Now, it was raining, the sort of mild downpour capable of leaving one drenched and sentenced to a night under thick blankets sniffing whilst sipping hot tea. But despite the seeming excuse to stay at home, this vendor guy was selling his papers, carefully kept away in the polythene bag he had secured under his arm for those times he might have to literally make a run for his money if the traffic lights go "green" amidst transactions. I was taken aback in thought as I wondered what the guy would think of if he learnt of my worries. I am quite sure he would give anything to be in my shoes even though I would love a better pair (I also mean that literally).

With this thought, I came to see that sometimes, what we call a problem is someone else’s prayer point. Where someone is whining about his job, another is asking if he could at least have one. A mother is complaining about having to spend so much money on diapers but the one yet to have a child of her own would call that silly. There’s the guy who wants to buy a better car and another who would go to any length to own one. A bloke is bothered about the paint on his house while the other needs a place he can call a house first of all then perhaps a home at some point. And there’s the sister that desires a divorce so badly yet there’s one who doesn’t mind who he is, she just wants to be married.

I don’t know about you, but I have come to learn that one of the best ways to make bad become good is to do what you would do when the good comes even while in the bad. Since joy comes in the morning, I had better start rejoicing in the night so that the day breaks earlier. In the order in which it comes to mind, I am grateful that:

1. I have a God I can thank for giving me things to thank Him for.

2. I have things to be grateful for.

3. I am alive and well, not been to the hospital or admitted for over two decades.

4. I am able to see, talk, think, walk, run, sit, dance, eat, drive, sing, write, read, drink, smell, feel, love, give, taste, swallow, remember, forget, appreciate, urinate, masticate, gesticulate, meditate, contemplate, etc

5. I have a family that is not ashamed to call me a son, brother, uncle, nephew etc.

6. I woke up this morning and didn’t have to ask “where am I?” because I have a sound mind and didn’t need to be told my name or who I am.

7. I have the ability to create music and enjoy music.

8. I know people who have misunderstood me thus making me understand myself.

9. I have people who believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself.

10. I don’t look like what I’ve been through in preparation of where I am going to.

11. I have access to things money can’t buy, things money can buy and money itself.

12. I have mentors and spiritual fathers who are men after God’s own heart.

13. I have contacts on my phone some people book appointments and fill forms to see e.g. the person whose eyes are reading this…YOU.

14. I have people who are actually willing to associate with me - meaning there must be something I have or do and someone I am.

15. I have seen eight months of this year and some people barely made it through the first.

etc

The list goes on but I believe the message is clear.

Thank you so much for taking out time to read this far. When something grand happens to you, I’ll surely be there to cheer but, in the meantime, what are you grateful for?

‘Bayor

August 30, 2010