THE LIST OF BLESSINGS

Do you have anything to be thankful for? In his classic novel Robinson Crusoe, author Daniel Defoe has shipwrecked Crusoe take inventory of his life. He makes two lists. One is a list of his problems. The other is an inventory of that for which he can give thanks.

A problem he writes is that he has no clothing. On his corresponding list he writes that the weather is warm and he really has little need for clothing. Another problem is that all of his provisions were lost at sea. But on the other list he writes that he has fresh fruit and water and can provide for himself. And so it goes. He lists his problems and likewise lists all that he has going for him. He is surprised at the size of the list of his assets.

How long would your list be if you took inventory of your blessings - all of that for which you can give thanks? For family. For friends. For faith. For health and the necessities of life. Did you know that some one million people will die this week...how is your health? Those who have food, clothing and shelter have more than much of our world's population will ever possess. Do you have these necessities of living?

How long would your list be if you took inventory of your blessings...and added one new item daily? Would you be amazed at the size of the list?

You have 1,440 minutes in every day. How would your life be different if you spent just 15 of those minutes daily giving thanks? Just 15 minutes filling your mind with concrete examples of how fortunate you are? Most of us would discover even after a few days that the exercise was life changing!

Poet Courtland Sayers put it this way:

Five thousand breathless dawns all new

One million flowers fresh in dew.

Five thousand sunsets wrapped in gold

One million snowflakes served ice cold.

Five quiet friends, one baby's love

One white sea of clouds above.

One June night in a fragrant wood

One heart that loved and understood.

I wondered when I waked that day

- In God's name - how could I ever pay?

Meister Eckhart once said, "If the only prayer you say in your whole life is 'thank you,' that would suffice." 

I suspect he is right!

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT!

Thanks for your visit and interest. Glad to know that there are friends around the world who keep visiting my sites |Verses & Inspirations| and |Huithiang!|

As of today, my sites attract visitors from more than 120 countries spanning the four corners of the globe. It is really gratifying to note that the painstaking hours of labour to put together the bits and pieces that you read are really not in vain.

Today, as of 3.00 pm, the counter indicated more than 600 hits from 38 countries. As I look at the graph, one thing comes to mind. When it comes to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, none can beat the Philippines. Though the country is ranked number 5 in the visitor's count - behind United States, United Kingdom, India and Canada - it surged ahead of others during Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which is an indication of the country's interest in celebrating this unique event. As of 3.00 pm today, we have 192 new visitors from the Philippines compared to 135 from the United States.

Thanks for your support and encouragement by way of returning again and again to my sites. Do log in again.


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Thanks & God bless!

WHEN GOOD THINGS COME INTO YOUR LIFE

Dear Child,

When good things come into your life,
come to Me and give thanks,
When financial and material blessings
come to you, give thanks. 

When you wake on an autumn morning,
and the air is cool and filled with promise,
and your eyes are amazed by the awesome beauty of
My creation, give thanks. 

When your loved ones are gathered close
and your heart is filled with the joy of their company,
give thanks. 

But when the trouble comes,
when questions crowd your mind,
when those close to you have let you down,
when the skies turn dark and help seems far away what then?
Then, too, give thanks. 

Know that I am in control.
Thank Me, knowing that in spite of what you see with your eyes,
I am working my will in every situation.
That I have promised never to leave you
nor forsake you.
That I love you and very near – nearer than your tears
and nearer than your trouble. 

In good times, your thanks will flow
from a heart of gratitude.
In difficult times, your thanks will flow
from a heart of faith.
But all the time give me thanks. 

Your faithful Provider,
GOD

THE BOEING 767

I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long, uneventful flight home. With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well. I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on "my" issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together. 

I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky Mall" magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled
take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself.

Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes. The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I"
was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up .........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I thought. 

The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U. S. Marines returning home from Iraq!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were having their hands shook and
touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. 

One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her. The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I" was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand. 

These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues. I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life I took for granted others paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" those heroes going home to their loved ones. 

I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our hero's were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane. 

The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them. I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank You for a job well done. I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough thank you to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.