Learning to be Grateful in Every Present Moment
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July 20, 2022Life is just too short to complain and be ungrateful; you simply don't know when God will call you home. I remember when my grandpa passed away very unexpectedly, and it was shocking news to me. Ultimately, everything is in the hands of God, as it is written in the Bible: "When people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Well, as I continue my studies into my fourth year with the Redemptorists, I have learned to remember to live in the moment and to appreciate God for all he has given me. Here's a story about appreciation.
When I was a kid, I would always rebel against eating vegetables and healthy food. I would always complain to my mother that the vegetables were tasteless and difficult to swallow. Vegetables became my sworn enemy and I would avoid eating them as much as I could. That is, until I moved away from home and lived in the dorms. I was then finally able to recognize the importance of eating vegetables to maintain a truly healthy body and avoid health issues, such as constipation from a lack of fiber.
The vegetables which I ate begrudgingly at home, became a necessity and something that I treasured at every meal. Sure, they didn’t taste great, but I learned their value lies in something beyond what my taste buds could perceive. In the same way, there are moments in life that are God’s special gifts to us, if we only look at these moments on a superficial level, we will fail to appreciate these precious gifts until it's too late.
There have been many people whom I have encountered and who have greatly impacted me through something as simple as a short conversation. As my summer ministry in Baton Rouge comes to a conclusion, I can attest that Fr. Tat and Fr. Kevin were my main mentors. They have helped grow into a better person.
Fr. Tat welcomed me with open arms, and he introduced me to so many different people. Getting to know new people has helped me to overcome my fears and step out of my shell. I'm a typical introvert when it comes to meeting someone new.
Thank you, Fr. Tat for being so compassionate to me. Furthermore, I want to thank Fr. Kevin for introducing me to the Hispanic Ministry. He helped me learn so much about the Hispanic culture and to better serve the people well.
The main takeaway that I would like to leave you with is to appreciate everything that you have, every moment of your life, before it's too late. Life is short and nothing lasts forever, except God. It takes more than worldly things to make us happy. True happiness is found by spiritually balancing this world with the next.
