10 thank you's

On the last day of the year 2010, what ten things can you thank God for?

Think about it, it’s not that easy, is it? You start out making a list of the obvious and then you realize that the obvious things often turn out to be materialistic things that end up making you feel shallow or silly.

But what are you REALLY, REALLY thankful for?

Now you’re tempted to be sentimental or significant. It doesn’t really matter as long as you are thankful and that you thank God.

First: After careful thought, the first thing I realized is that this year, my wife and I have been particularly and specially thankful to God that we have our own house.

Throughout the year we have come across stories and struggles of friends and acquaintances whose lives have been made difficult due to rental problems or difficult landlords. So no matter how small, far-flung or simple your house may be, you have one, so thank God for it.

Second: I certainly thank God for the faithfulness of his provision and the people he has used to bless me, and my family. In a global economy that was full of fear and uncertainty, God met every need and even threw in bonus points in terms of unexpected work and favor.

Third: while the list may be an expression of gratitude for what we receive, we should also realize that the ability and opportunity to be a blessing or to help others is something to thank God for.

In the natural many of us feel awkward or even feel obligated because people turn to us for help, but after the fact, when we have helped others, we realize that we are thankful to be giving help rather than be the one asking for help.

We also realize that God has blessed us and used us to be a blessing to others. It is both an honor and a humbling experience.

Fourth: They say you can choose your friends but not your relatives, but if you have been blessed with a family that you can love and loves you back in spite of ourselves or the myriad circumstances of life, then God has gifted you with “Family”.

Fifth: I certainly thank God for “friends who are closer than a brother”. Friendship is a privilege we extend to each other, but when we receive the gift of having true friends and true friendship, we are certainly doubly blessed. Thank God for that.

Sixth: in spite of a year long bout of sometimes excruciating back pain, I am thankful to God that I can still read, I can drive, I can walk miles and I can eat just about anything on the menu.

I spent half a lifetime dishonoring the gift of good health by smoking, drinking and risky behavior. Like all gifts, I have come to realize that we must Honor the gift and the giver by taking care of our health and using it to honor God.

Seventh: I thank God for dreams that have come true, whether it took 28 years or one year or a decade, it has once again been a year of dreams come true. I finally set foot on Japan, My team and I built what I think is the first ever aluminum bodied 1965 Mustang fastback which we hope to display at the next Manila International Auto show.

Eight: In a world where not everybody has a choice or gets a chance, I thank God for goals started or reached. With the New Year just a day away, every one will have goals, will have projects lined up or resolutions to make or break.

But how many of the stuff in our “Goals” or “To-do list” actually get started or gets done? So look back in the year and ask yourself — what got started and what got done? For all of this, Thank God.

Ninth: I thank God for the “ladies” in my life; My Mom Marita, My beloved wife Karen, and my daughter Hannah. Like roosters, men do so much crowing that we forget the blessings that women bring to our lives, our homes and our nation.

We forget the personal sacrifices they make for others, especially us. I try to constantly remind myself that the women in our lives are the ones who teach us about gentleness, kindness, honesty, perseverance and love. Without these lessons in life, we would have no life because we would not know how to live.

Tenth: I thank God most especially for being my God.

I am often awed by the thought that I could have been a heathen, a non-practicing whatever. I could have continued down the road of self-pity, bitterness and pride. I could have carried on with a curse of poverty upon my back.

But instead, out of the billions of people on the planet, he actually singled me out just like the Shepherd who sought out his missing sheep. In spite of myself, God has been Patient and Kind to me this year. In spite of my slip-ups and slipped tongue, God kept his word. Rather than a reprimand, he reminded.

Yes once again it has been a good and God-filled year.

Thank you Almighty God for you are faithful indeed. Happy New Year and may God bless each and every member of your family and ours with joy, abundance, good health, wisdom and grace.

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