christian illustration

Have we ever realized that we are so blessed ?
You are so blessed

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you can attend a pray meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this article you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.

Suatu hari seorang bapak tua hendak menumpang bus. Pada saat ia menginjakkan kakinya ke tangga, salah satu sepatunya terlepas dan jatuh ke jalan. Lalu pintu tertutup dan bus mulai bergerak, sehingga ia tidak bisa memungut sepatu yang terlepas tadi. Lalu si bapak tua itu dengan tenang melepas sepatunya yang sebelah dan melemparkannya keluar jendela.

Seorang pemuda yang duduk dalam bus melihat kejadian itu, dan bertanya kepada si bapak tua, "Aku memperhatikan apa yang Anda lakukan Pak. Mengapa Anda melempakan sepatu Anda yang sebelah juga ?" Si bapak tua menjawab, "Supaya siapapun yang menemukan sepatuku bisa memanfaatkannya."

Si bapak tua dalam cerita di atas memahami filosofi dasar dalam hidup - jangan mempertahankan sesuatu hanya karena kamu ingin memilikinya atau karena kamu tidak ingin orang lain memilikinya. Kita kehilangan banyak hal di sepanjang masa hidup. Kehilangan tersebut pada awalnya tampak seperti tidak adil dan merisaukan,
tapi itu terjadi supaya ada perubahan positif yang terjadi dalam hidup kita.
Kalimat di atas tidak dapat diartikan kita hanya boleh kehilangan hal-hal jelek saja. Kadang, kita juga kehilangan hal baik. Ini semua dapat diartikan : supaya kita bisa menjadi dewasa secara emosional dan spiritual, pertukaran antara kehilangan sesuatu dan mendapatkan sesuatu haruslah terjadi.

Seperti si bapak tua dalam cerita, kita harus belajar untuk melepaskan sesuatu. Tuhan sudah menentukan bahwa memang itulah saatnya si bapak tua kehilangan sepatunya. Mungkin saja peristiwa itu terjadi supaya si bapak tua nantinya bisa mendapatkan sepasang sepatu yang lebih baik.

Satu sepatu hilang. Dan sepatu yang tinggal sebelah tidak akan banyak bernilai bagi si bapak. Tapi dengan melemparkannya ke luar jendela, sepatu itu akan menjadi hadiah yang berharga bagi gelandangan yang membutuhkan.
Berkeras mempertahankannya tidak membuat kita atau dunia menjadi lebih baik. Kita semua harus memutuskan kapan suatu hal atau seseorang masuk dalam hidup kita, atau kapan saatnya kita lebih baik bersama yang lain. Pada saatnya, kita harus mengumpulkan keberanian untuk melepaskannya.

When spoken sincerely, these statements often have the power to develop new friendships, deepen old ones and even bring healing to relationships that have sourerd.
There are many things that you can do to strengthen your relationships.
Often the most effective thing you can do involves saying just three words.

The following three-word phrases can be tools to help develop every relationship.
1. Let me help.
Good friends see a need and then try to fill it. When they see a hurt
they do what they can to heal it.Without being asked,they jump in and help out.

2. I understand you.
People become closer and enjoy each other more when the other person
accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know - in so many
little ways - that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools
for healing your relationship. And this can apply to any relationship.

3. I respect you.
Respect is another way of showing love. Respect demonstrates that another
person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were
adults you will strengthen the bonds and become closer friends. This
applies to all interpersonal relationships.

4. I miss you.
Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply
and sincerely said to each other "I miss you." This powerful affirmation
tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how
important you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from
your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say "I miss you."

5. Maybe you're right.
This phrase is very effective in diffusing an argument. The implication
when you say "maybe you're right" is the humility of admitting, "maybe
I'm wrong". Let's face it. When you have an argument with someone,
all you normally do is solidify the other person's point of view. They,
or you, will not likely change their position and you run the risk of seriously
damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right"
can open the door to explore the subject more. You may then have the
opportunity to express your view in a way that is understandable
to the other person.

6. Please forgive me.
Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would
admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to
faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that
he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is
wiser today than he was yesterday.

7. I thank you.
Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the
companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily
courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their
many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of
friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

8. Count on me.
A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential
ingredient for true friendship. It is the emotional glue that bonds
people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true
friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating
"you can count on me."

9. I'll be there.
If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take
a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from
home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase "I'll be there."
Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we
are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and
us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally
and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.

10. Go for it.
We are all unique individuals. Don't try to get your friends to conform to
your ideals. Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how far out
they seem to you. God has given everyone dreams, dreams that are unique to that
person only. Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams.
Tell them to "go for it."

B o n u s :
11. I love you.
Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone
that you truly love them satisfies a person's deepest emotional needs. The
need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your spouse,
your children, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little
words: "I love you." Love is a choice. You can love even when the feeling
is gone.

12. GOD BLESS YOU!
(These are 3 words too, right?)

"Did you see how poor people live?"

One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."