A Precious Gift

We take things for granted nowadays. The shelter we live, the water  supply we have, the electricity that powers are home, the road we travel every day, the air we breathe, the relationships we have, the love of God, the present moment—a lovely Gift, precious yet precocious. We fail to be grateful for having a family despite its imperfection. We fail to thank the people who nurtured us for reaching this far. Everyone who has a role in maintaining the society is important and needs to be appreciated.

How many of us have shown appreciation to the driver who delivered us to our destination safely? A simple “thank you” or a simple act of kindness in the form of respect will do. How many of us have thanked our teachers for dedicating their time and effort to educate us? Instead, we complained for they are giving us a lot of projects, quizzes, exams and academic demands that are too burdensome. How many of us have shown our deepest regard to our parents for bringing us on Earth, and guiding us along the way? Some may have bitterness towards them, especially the irresponsible and uncaring parents who are too fragile to even care their young. Instead of planting bitterness, allow ourselves to heal and let us forgive them slowly until we are healed. We cannot understand them sometimes, but they still loved us even if we haven’t felt it.

How many of us have thanked the Lord for being alive, breathing the air He created? Our vision and hearing allowed us to see the beauty of nature, feel the warmth of the sunrise, listen to the humming bird and cry of the children, taste the sweetness of coffee and sourness of the citrus fruit, touched the smoothness of the glass window and with a kiss felt the love of our significant other. Truly, the Lord has  blessed us in every way we can imagine. It is up to us to appreciate them singly. Rather, we focused on the things we don’t have—the Worldly materials like Iphones, laptops, gadgets, money, big fully-furnished houses, beautiful cars and dresses, physical beauty and the like. In this age and time of modernity, we have lost our soul and lost our presence in the present moment. We have become prisoners of material desires always chasing for success in the form of more degrees, accumulation of material wealth, seeking fame and power in the society, seeking approval of people, of man.

While there is nothing wrong with being wealthy, famous and powerful, we still have an obligation to share our talents and gifts to our fellowmen. For as long as we have obtained our possessions in a legal manner that does not violate our ethics and morals, wealth is not wrong. But the gift of talent and gift or richness should be shared to the poor and those suffering as well. In the form of charitable service, or donating what you have in excess is a little step towards that act. For what gains do you have accumulating things on Earth when you lose your soul for eternity?

The gift of time we share to others is also important. When a friend is down and depressed, share your time counseling. When a patient is in distress, give time for emotional healing. When your son/daughter is struggling, have time for family talk. When your spouse is going through a hard time, offer your self to talk about the matter. When a student is lost and confuse, be there to openly discuss coping mechanisms. When a family member is discouraged, give your time and sit with him/her for a few moment. Sometimes, even if you don’t have to talk for as long as you are there is enough to lift up their spirit.

Gift does not only come in the form of envelopes with cash, nor cakes and housewares, it is not material. Your gift in singing can uplift the mood of the crowd in distress, your gift in teaching can feed the ignorance of many, your gift in healing can bring back the life of the paralyzed, your gift in planning and policy-making can improve societal needs, your gift in dancing can bring morale and art-appreciation in entertaining the lives of those who seek for happiness, your gift in customer-relations can satisfy the needs of others.

We all have a role to play, a gift to nurture inside of us. In this modern times and age where humanity is losing their connections with one another, start sharing that gift so that others may share theirs. A little discipline and push is needed. We have a demanding God who establishes rules to follow. It is perhaps also time to have a demanding parent to discipline his/her children to be good people or a demanding teacher that pushes his/her students to their maximum limit! Go and share what you have!

Appreciate the Beauty of Life and don't forget to share something no matter how small.