10 things to be thankful for...

God has given me another chance to reflect on life, to be still for the moment and appreciate life. Here are my 10 things I am thankful for after the "Ondoy" experience yesterday Sept. 26, 2009:

1. my family - they provide comfort, security and protection during the toughest hours of downpour as we watched the terror on TV.

2. home - a place of refuge where the only concern was the 2 inches of flood in our garden that was easily resolved by several basins. the home which kept us dry and safe. with all the valuable inside intact. thank you Lord.

3. electricity - no power interruption which made it possible for us to be updated on what was happening, which allowed me to enjoy a typical Saturday with my family. this included bonding moments in bed, harutan to the max, then found time to blog, update FB, check my mails, greet my sister in law on her birthday, enjoy a late breakfast, lunch, merienda, dinner. My mom was also busy loading for our neighbors on their cellphone.

4. food and water - sopas, daing na bangus, saging na saba, hot rice, fried chicken, hopia and clean, drinking water for the entire family. God is so amazing. My husband's officemate still trapped at the 2nd floor of their house in Village East who did not have lunch or dinner yet, no food nor water late in the evening. They said it all happened so fast.

5. technology - laptop, FB, google, http://www.gmanews.tv/, cellphone, telco signal for our cellphones, 3G, tv, radio - this kept us up-to-date, helped our relatives and friends who were stranded.

6. rain - this reminded me that there is always hope, and there is always sunshine after the rain.

7. friends and relatives - who kept praying for our safety here in the metro, who asked us how we were doing, all who were concerned and even remembered to text and call us.

8. clothes to keep us warm - when the rest of the residents in the east were soaking wet and freezing to death as the rain kept on pouring and help seemed impossible. Even the pair of socks that kept my feet warm was truly appreciated.

9. lolo Ben and the life that we still have. My husband mentioned that it was truly a blessing to live in QC where the flood did not reach us. It was my lolo Ben(who passed away Jan. 1, 2009) who developed the village where we now live in. Thank you lolo. And thank you Lord for the gift of life.

10. sunshine after the storm - when I woke up this morning, even before I opened the TV to hear about the tragedy brought by Ondoy--the beautiful sunshine greeted me as I opened our bedroom door. God thank you talaga.

It's a good practice to stop awhile and be grateful for what is here, what is NOW. We shouldn't be too busy to remember how God is faithful through good and bad times. With all that has happened, I didn't see the significance of "cash", there was no use for it when you're on top of the roof as you witness the water rising and threatening the very life that we take for granted (the only possession that we have). Truly we can smile after the storm for God ensured that there are a lot of reasons to be thankful.

Let me share this song with you which I find very meaningful right this moment: http://www.lyricsreg.com/lyrics/hillsong/Lord+I+Offer+My+Life+To+You/

part of the song that struck me:

What can we give

That you have not given?

And what do we have
That is not already yours?

All we possess

Are these lives we're living

That's what we give to you, Lord