A Wonderful kind of list

"When you hear the word list, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?" I went around asking that question.

Here are some of the answers I got immediately:

1. To-do List

2. Grocery list

3. List for Santa

4. Homework list

5. Menu list

6. List of friends

7. List of events to go to

8. List of guests for a party

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Indeed, there is a world of lists. Now, how about making a gratitude list?

"What? Is that necessary?" you may be thinking.

It is. There are just so many things to be grateful for. And it is important to list them down so we don't forget to say "thank you."

In fact, the best way to start the day - the moment you open your eyes and get out of bed - is to say "thank you" to God for a good night's rest and... to make a gratitude list.

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There is this very old bedtime song that my mother taught me when I was little. It was written by Rebecca J. Weston in 1885, long before your grandparents were born!

I likewise taught it to my children.  And even now that I am old, I still sing it. Maybe you know this song, too. It is actually a prayer to God, saying "thank you" for what He has done for us before we turn in at night.

Father, we thank Thee for the night,

And for the pleasant morning light;

For rest and food and loving care,

And all that makes the world so fair.

* * *

Have you thanked your lola and lolo for the food they sent you? Or the gift they gave you on your birthday? Or their visit despite their busy schedule?

Have you thanked your yaya for taking you to school? Or preparing your baon? Or cleaning your room?

Have you thanked your mom and dad for coming home with a pasalubong? Or for helping you with your homework? Or for buying you a new pair of shoes?

Have you thanked your teacher for the new lessons she taught you today? Or for checking your papers? Or for teaching you how to behave properly?

There are just sooo many people to thank for sooo many things!

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Why is saying "thank you" so important?

Both expressing - and feeling - gratitude should be parts of life. "Gratitude in the most basic terms is being thankful and appreciative of the good things you have," says Sheela Raja, a professor and psychologist in the US.

We should be grateful for our gazillions of "gifts" - from good meals to things we see like butterflies and tadpoles to every kindness we receive from various people in our life.

A sense of gratitude can benefit children and adults in many ways. For one, people who are grateful will be less stressed in comparing themselves with others. We will also be focused on what we have instead of what we can't have.

Our gratitude list can include good things that happened, but should also include possible good things that can come out of something bad that we experienced.

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Oh, I just heard the garbage truck honking its horn. Excuse me while I go and thank the garbage men for collecting our trash every day. Won't you share with me your gratitude list one day this week? My e-mail address is: [email protected]; and my website is at: http://leavesofgrace.blogspot.com.