Counting Blessings: A Secret To Happiness!

“Count your blessings” is an old adage we hear oftentimes from people which most of us can relate to regardless of location, ability, gender and socio-economic status. But how frequent do people  count their blessings?  Always? Once, twice,  thrice a day?   We really don’t have any idea and there is no way we can quantify it, there is no rule of thumb for this!   As long as we are happy and contented despite the lack of resources, that should be the very essence of life. The fact that we are willing to share what we have with the less fortunates, even though how scarce our personal finances are, there is more reason for us to count our blessings.    That is truly a blessing in itself….a blessing that we are still “able” and “strong”  to lend a helping hand to the impoverished, to the old and indisposed, to children who have been deprived of quality education due to lack of  school supplies and other educational related necessities, among others. 

When we count our blessings, we forget our failures, shortcomings and wrongdoings, and instead we think and show gratefulness for the good things we’ve done. Somewhere in the process, we do not only bring joy to other people but we  experience likewise a certain feeling of personal satisfaction.   We also start to give recognition to the people we love and those around us, thus creating a happy family environment.

I would like to share with you an article forwarded to me by a very dear “kin” who in her early “tweens”,  has already a passion to help those in need. Instead of celebrating an important occasion with someone special and inviting friends to a party or  fine dining,  she decided to spend it in “style”!   Together with her fellow  “nightingales” and friends,  they went out of their comfort zones and organized  a worthy cause which made the sick and the aged and some unfortunate kids happy.  It didn’t cost them a lot of money to help these people,  but the willingness and the heart to do it and a  little help from benefactors made the event a reality and success.  

Incidentally, the said activity reminded me of our responsibility, every citizen,  to help our respective Governments in our own little way to achieve its plans and programs particularly its  Development Goals.   My kin’s group of young urban professionals initiated this activity on their own volition, giving up a little of their time, luxury and treasure to help the poor.   Isn’t this one humble and quickest way of helping Governments achieve its goals of helping the poorer sectors of society? I commend you guys. Good job!  Keep it up!

The  blog episode below is a brief article written by Kristine A. (Note: Pictures herein are  not for reproduction and are exclusively for my useful tips use only)

“Always count your blessings” 

by: Kristine A.S.A.

A famous saying that all of us should live by. By doing so, it will let us know how fortunate we are and how much our God loves us! After counting our blessings, that’s the time we should start to share. Sharing and giving to our less fortunate brothers is another way of thanking God for the abundant blessings He’s given and will be giving  us. It doesn’t matter how much amount you can give, as long as you have the heart and sincerity in giving, it matters more than anything else.

In this connection,  Mike and I planned for something different to  celebrate our anniversary. Even though our relationship (boyfriend-girlfriend) is relatively new,  it has grown and matured in our faith in God.  Instead of having the usual dating or going out of town, we opted to share our blessings and do a small charity work in a local orphanage and home for the aged.  As soon as we finished inquiring and visiting the sites, I started a text brigade to our family, friends and colleagues asking for their help for the said project. As I predicted, most of the people I texted were all supportive and generous enough to help us. And then, one by one people started to pledge for  the things they could provide and share.  After gathering all the things that we needed for the charity work, I called the orphanage and home for the aged to schedule a date to visit them.  And we agreed to do it on May 17, 2012! Yeeeeeyy!!!

Our first stop was at the NAZARETH: Bahay Pag-ibig Home For The Aged. It is located beside the San Pablo Cathedral, San Pablo City, Philippines.  The said institution is  a non-government organization which accommodates abandoned elders. Presently, they have 17 “lolos ” and “lolas” (grandfathers and grandmothers).

The administrator of the home for the aged  told  us that like any other charitable institutions, donations come only seasonally.  So, we thought that it was more practical to give them their personal needs. We gave them diapers, toiletries, medicines, and prepared some snacks for them. 

Because Mike and I are both nurses, our friends in the hospital volunteered to go with us and helped us even though the sun was scorching hot that day. Thanks guys!!!! Deeply appreciated..

Our next stop was at the Open Door Christian Orphanage located at Fule Sahagun St., San Pablo, City. It was founded in the year 2000 with the vision to reach out to the orphaned, abandoned, abused and destitute children. They have 27 kids in  their protective custody right now.

As for the kids, we prepared school materials for them just in time for the new school year which is soon forthcoming. Notebooks, pencils, crayons, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, are some of the items found in their loot bags. We also gave them some toys, medicines and prepared some snacks for them.

They were all accommodating and we received a warm welcome from them.