Thankful

I think I made a reckless move when I traveled to Cagayan de Oro while Storm Signal No. 2 was up. Little did I know that while I was able to catch some sleep that night of heavy rains, hundreds of people lost their lives and thousands others lost their homes. I was unfamiliar with Cagayan de Oro streets and barangays. Little did I know that I was just a few blocks away from catastrophe.

As much as possible, I try to eliminate what-ifs from my thoughts but I can’t. I was lucky that I woke up at 5AM on December 17 dry and alive. For that, I am thankful.

I remember when Ondoy hit Manila in 2009; I was watching the news while taking care of my ailing father. Papa could still carry a conversation then. I was telling him about the tragedy that Ondoy brought to Manila. I cried and all I could do was hug my father because I could not imagine what I would do should such tragedy fall on us while my father was sick. Those months when my father was bedridden were trying times in my life but as I watched what happened during Ondoy, there were still a lot of people in situations worse that what we had that time.  There is so much to be thankful for.

I am nursing a cold so I went to buy medicine this afternoon. I was about to complain in my thoughts that medicine is an added expense. Then, Papa’s words came into my mind, “Do not worry about expenses. Be thankful you have money to buy and you can still buy something with your money”.   There is so much to be thankful for.

How to help

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Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

This song keeps playing on my head today.

Thankful

Written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager, performed by Josh GrobanSome days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can’t see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can’t see.
It’s up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There’s so much to be thankful for.Look beyond ourselves
There’s so much sorrow
It’s way too late to say
I’ll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It’s so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can’t see
It’s up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There’s so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences
There is a place we’re all connected
Each of us can find each other’s light

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can’t see
It’s up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more

There’s so much to be thankful for

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