Gratitude
The Fragile States Index in the UN ranked the Philippines 52nd most fragile country of 178 countries in the world. That's why we must handle our country with care like we do with precious stones.
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Those who blasted, nay, bashed 2014 for being a year full of tragedies and calamities didn't know what they were talking about. The year 2014 a bad year? Maybe it was. But never mind. At least, we're still up and about. Thank God.
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I got the following text message the morning after Christmas Day:
"Mornings are best moments to express our gratitude to God...
"Dear God. Thank you for the pains and sorrows... for you made me stronger and hold on to Your Holy Will...
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"Thank you for the joy and laughter... for you made me an optimist and share it with others... But most of all... thank you for waking me up today and giving me time to greet people close to my heart." Amen.
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A priest said pupils in our grade schools do not know anymore who our heroes are. The pupils were asked if they knew Andres Bonifacio, Gregorio del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini, etc. No one knew. Even Jose Rizal is not known to them, except to one boy who said: "Jose Rizal? Tua na siya tingali sa pikas room."
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Gratitude or saying thank you is seldom heard among Christians today. A restaurant waiter for 20 years said to a priest he never had been thanked by people he had served. Not until an old man said thanks to him after his meal and as he paid his chit. The old man wasn't even a Christian. He was Mahatma Gandhi.
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A sick old man after years of betting and losing in lotto finally hit the P60 million jackpot. But members of the family fearing that he would be shocked to death, decided to seek the help of a priest in telling the old man about his luck. "OK, no problems, said the priest.
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The priest told the old man if he had won P60 million in lotto how would he spend the money? "Oh, no problem, Padre. I would give half of the prize to you." The priest was speechless and then collapsed.
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These are jokes with elements of truth. I learned them from a homily at the Misa de Gallo at the CCTN Ch. 47. They kept the sleepy early morning mass attenders awake and smiling in the spirit of Christmas.
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The mass presider in that Misa de Gallo, by the way, was Mons. Daniel Sanico. The "meat" of his homily, actually, was gratitude, the virtue many of us have forgotten. If we can't give gratitude to anyone for anything, let there be gratitude to God in our hearts for everything that we have especially for the life He has given us.
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