The year-end is here again. I took my journal and sat on my favorite armed chair at the balcony. It has been my own personal tradition to re-read my life book and list down all of my accomplishments, blessings and failures throughout the year.
For most of the time, I thought I failed to perform most of my goals and responsibilities. With this thing in my mind, I expect to have lesser accomplishments than failures. I wrote the label Blessings on one page and Failures on another page. Then, I started scanning from the first to the last leaf of my journal. Surprisingly, I got four pages back to back for Blessings and only a page for Failures. Yet, I have only listed the most major events. There could have been many other more for the list. Somehow, I was glad to realize this. This year is not that bad after all because it is stupendous, a lot of good things happened. There have been times when I prayed for certain people, for the ministry, and for my own personal longings and there have been many times that God had answered my prayers. I am awestruck by the hand of God working.
Reflection:
In many cases in life, we are too focused on the troubles, disappointments and discouragements that only pass by. We are so mused at the pain we get from those bad days that we tend to forget all of the many blessings we received. We fail to remember that these storms are just temporary and God’s blessings are permanent. We fail to see the goodness and this stray us away from God’s joy.
I was reminded of the good old hymn:
“Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God has done ”
It is by counting your blessings that you see how marvelous God is. It is there that we know God indeed answers prayers and our joy is filled.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
( It is a duet with my youngest sister, Nansil and keyboard accompaniment by Aprilyn. I composed this song in dedication to my wonderful sisters. I am blessed to have sisters like you. My apologies for a poor audio quality but I still hope you like listening to it.)
I am imperfect
Sometimes I make you frown
oh sorry, sister
but you can count on
in the days when you'll feel down
you know I'll be there, sister
I may be so far away
but you will be in my heart, in my mind for always
Chorus:
Sister, you know how much you mean to me
how can I ever thank you
You are there each time I call
Sister, to me you are an angel
through the good and the bad
you're the best friend that I've ever had
How can I express
the care you gave to me
oh woh sister...
How much I wish
I could pay you what you did
you stood by me, sister!
As much love you've given me
I pray that God repays you blessings indeed
oh blessings indeed
Through some cloudy days when I make you feel bad
Through some moments when you'll also make me feel mad
But together we can always make life a little more beautiful
coz our bond's just as strong
and we know when something's wrong
coz were...
