Uno, Dos, Tres...

Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November every year where they recall things that make them happy. It's surely a great event but I doubt that one day is enough to be able to recall all the things we ought to be thankful for.

Researchers agree that being thankful changes our brains as it boosts our happiness and makes us a more positive person as we intentionally count our blessings. It also helps us worry less knowing we may lack some but has been given so much, thus, we rest and sleep better.

I have never seen a grateful person living a miserable life but it's always the other way around. So many people live in a dark place as they contemplate, highlight and magnify the things that they lack.

I realized that the farther we get to the miracles or blessings, the more we're likely to forget them and I refuse to do that. Me and my husband have started a culture we want to be a norm in our family; to count our big blessings (literally).

I've heard this in one of our Senior pastor's preachings, "parents should not only teach their kids to count but also teach them WHAT TO COUNT".

Let me share to you what we count...

Uno. He to me and me to him.

Cheesy as it may sound but this is a great reminder that we are each other's number one priority and blessing from the Almighty. In times that it's easier to find faults like a fly that lures around smelly objects, it helps me remember that my husband is a blessing (although he doesn't always act like one and vice versa) and it would make me switch from being a fly to being like the bees that only lure over beautiful flowers.

Dos. Lot in Davao.

Although my husband started paying for this lot when he was still single, we're able to pay it in full earlier than scheduled as we paid over and above the monthly dues because God has blessed us over and above too.

Tres. Logosandme.

Whenever I feel tired and stressed from having to joggle between my full-time job at school and being the marketing and customer service of our family printing business, I'd intentionally think that it's a rare sight to have a business in a foreign country. Additionally, this business allows us not just to earn extra but also to live out our purpose as believers, to make Jesus known. In fact, our tagline is, more than printing, it's a calling.

Quatro. Our faith house.

If having a business in Japan is already like an uphill battle, having Quatro is like squeezing water from a stone. (I have a separate blog about that). Having to remember this and how we're able to complete our furniture and appliances in a short span makes me fall on my knees every time. Knowing full well that it's God's, makes us more eager to share it with others too.

Cinco. Driver's license.

My husband sweat blood for this. He started going to the driving school prior to being given Quatro so he didn't expect he'd eventually need to travel 2 hours to and 2 hours from on weekends for 4 months. It was a worthy sacrifice because it led us to Seis. Did I mention how the Lord made it possible for him to pass his 100 items exam and actual driving exam just in one take?

Seis. Our car.

We had to wait for 11 months for Seis to arrive because of the Ukraine war but the Lord has blessed us even in our waiting when the Church's car was lent to us for free only we needed to drive it whenever we had face to face events. This also helped Romel get used to driving and to conquer his fear on the road.

Just 3 years of being married, the Lord has been so faithful in giving us Uno to Seis and we know it's not something that happens everyday given that we're only earning enough to sustain our needs. I am convinced that these miracles only happened in God's Omnipotent Hands.

The previous and constant works of God, when we're fully aware, encourage us to trust Him for great and even greater things in the present and the future. Hence, aside from counting big blessings, I also see to it that I recall little, often taken-for-granted things daily.

If we're in search for an effective antidote for envy, entitlement, hopelessness and depression, it would greatly help if we'll busy ourselves appreciating and recalling God's blessings in our daily lives that we'll run out of time to complain for the things we're yet to have.

How to count your blessings?

• Write down at least 3 blessings per day like being able to go to work safely, being able to buy grocery despite the inflation, having a jacket because it's been cold lately, having a seat on a crowded train on your way home, having Wifi, being able to finish cooking even if you're busy with kids and so on.

• Have a "Thank you jar" or a scrap book for answered prayers. Intentionally counting prayers the Lord has answered and seeing an empty jar or space to oozing one would make you trust and love Him more.

• Ask God to help you recall the hard battles in the past and how He has helped you overcome those.

Psalm 143:5-6: I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

In David's dark season, he thought of the good days with God like His goodness of how He met him and promoted him from a shepherd boy to a king which brought warm smile to his soul. Upon remembering God's great works, David responded with his hand in prayer and praise.

His full heart made him spread his arm in worship.

Psalm 92:1 says, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High!".

Thank you Lord for my laptop, my vacant time, for giving me a heart wanting to sing praises to You and wisdom to put my thoughts into words with high hopes of inspiring at least one soul to also start counting their Uno, Dos, Tres....