A Thankful Heart

I AM THANKFUL FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT

BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO

BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE THAT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES THAT I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY

BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,

WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,

AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT

BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING

AND THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH THAT SINGS OFF KEY

BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS

BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

I received this through the e-mail today. I am reminded once again of how blessed I am and how thankful I should be to God who has given me so much. Recently, Agnes has been telling me off about my tendency to complain about almost everything. I think I have, and I believe that it is all down to the fact that I have not been thankful. I like this poem very much as it helps me to look at things differently. It teaches me to be thankful for all the things that I normally complain about, because these are the very things that remind me of God’s goodness and providential grace.

Bible study was canceled today so I was able to join up with my SK and ex-SK group of friends for dinner at SS2. It was great to be able to meet up together like this. There were more than 20 of us, who used to be in the same CG together. It reminded me again of old times, when all of us stayed in SK. We would meet up frequently and go for outings and meals together. Now we have all gone our separate ways. It has been getting more and more difficult to organize dinners like this, since all of us were staying in different locations and had different jobs with different commitments to different churches. I am thankful to God for this community of friends and fellow believers. I am sure that such a close group of friends is not easy to come by, and it all started because of something called the CF and CG.