#Thankful

This post is a little late, I have been meaning to write it for nearly a month, but just haven’t been able to squeeze out the time.

This Sunday I had the opportunity to go to this Carol Service of 9 lessons, I guess this is something that people from the Anglican or Catholic Church are quite familiar with, but being Pentecostal it was pretty new to me. For those that do not know, this carol service is an annual initiative of the Nigerian Society for the Blind, they take the carol service to a different church every year. To begin with, I must admit, that I was not best pleased when I walked into church on Sunday morning to see that we’d be on our feet singing carols for an hour plus. But something struck me after about the 2nd carol, the actual joy, happiness, and gratitude that emanated from the “blind choir” (for lack of better terminology). In the midst of their misfortune and disability they still had joy. I am told that these choristers were all once able to see, but without any notice, in the middle of their very successful careers, they lost their sight. Some were lawyers, others bankers, chemists, students, etc. But their reality is now one of abject darkness.

Till Sunday I definitely took my sight for granted, seeing has always been something that I never considered a blessing, but that along with the many other things that we take for granted are not our rights to have, we have done nothing special to deserve many of the things that we have, so we must remain ever thankful to He who in his mercy gave us such blessings. In the midst of our very REAL needs, misfortune, and lack we must take the time out to count our blessings.

Here are some of the things that I am thankful for:

#Life – Many people go to sleep and just do not wake up in the morning, people die daily from cancer, lack of clean water kills many in Africa, yet I still stand

#Sight – The ability to behold the beauty that God has created is not a privilege that all enjoy

#Hearing – I love music, I love to hear the voices of the people I love, and I am grateful that I have that privilege

#Health – Not only am I alive, but I am not injecting myself daily with anything, I am not on a drip or any permanent medication

#Family – If I had a choice I could not pick better brothers than the ones I have, more caring and generous parents than my parents, and a great extended family that encourage me with their words and deeds

#Friends – Great friends make all the difference in Lagos, I may not have many but I appreciate and love all the ones that I do have, even if I don’t say it often, or act like it I really do

#Laughter – Laughter is medicine to the soul, I am thankful that I have a sense of humour, and I am surrounded with people that make me laugh

#Education – My mind is my greatest asset, and I am grateful that I have had an opportunity to enlighten it

#Accommodation – I am grateful for a roof over my head, I always complain that I don’t have enough wardrobe space, but there are many here in Lagos that have never ever had a bed of their own, a bathroom, let alone wardrobe space

#His Image – God created me in “his image”, and absolutely everything about me is beautiful, I may not see it all the time, others may not even see it at all, but it is a fact, We are all beautiful!!!!!

#Comfort – I am VERYYYYYY far from the richest person in the world or even my little corner of Lagos, but I am thankful that I am comfortable, I do not lack for the bare necessities of life and I even have a few perks

#Mentors – the saying goes “success has many fathers, but defeat is an orphan” I am extremely thankful that I have many exemplary people around me that I can learn from, that share with me their mistakes, pass on their tested strategies, and guide me through my own rough patches

This list can really go on for ages, because I am thankful for sooooooooooo much in my life, so I am going to jump to the last and the MOST IMPORTANT. I am thankful for...

...#Gods unconditional love – In my past failings, my present struggle, and my future shortcomings, one thing has and always will be constant God’s love. Words cannot express how thankful I am that no matter who I am and what I do, my future is guaranteed because of His love. If that doesn’t blow your mind, I don’t know what will.

I suggest that in any spare minute you have today, you take the time out to write a list of all the things that you are thankful for, this small act will show us how blessed we are and how much we take for granted, whilst we concentrate on what we don’t have.

Xoxo.