In Everything, Give Thanks

​by: Atty Carolina Lim-Gamban

2022 is ending soon and it is always healthy to look back, count your blessings – tangible or non-tangible, and give thanks to the Almighty God.

The past years had been full of unexpected events that pressed and pushed us down. Numerous things happened as repercussions of the pandemic, international conflicts, and disasters. In retrospect, we can just take a deep breath and say, “Thank God, we are still alive.” Thank God we are still living while others had gone ahead because of Covid-19, debilitating diseases, accidents, wars and conflicts between nations, and the ill-effects of climate change. Thank God that we have something to eat on the table, and there is still enough for tomorrow. Thank God that we have shelter and clothing. Thank God that we have family or friends who are there to support us in times of loses and victories.

Being thankful is a character that must be innate if we want to live a peaceful and joy-filled life. Cicero, one of the Roman Philosophers said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” Although these were not fully expounded, we can interpret his words saying that gratitude is the greatest virtue and all other virtues emanate from gratitude. When we are filled with thankfulness, our words, actions, and deeds are also pleasant, as it is said, out of the abundance of our hearts, the mouth speaks. When our hearts are filled with thankfulness, we are also filled with gladness that translates how we do, how we act, or how we say. Having a heart filled with gratitude will not make any room for anger, hatred, or other negative vibes. Instead, it encourages love, hope, peace, and joy.  People with grateful hearts feel happier and more content, according to Madhuleena Roy Chowdhury. In her article entitled,  A sincere “thank you” can help soothe one’s heart. It brings encouragement to the recipient and satisfaction to the giver. It helps in maintaining good relationship with others since we communicate better. Being thankful brings positive emotions and therefore can also impact our health. Saying “thank you,” expressing our gratitude in other ways, and receiving expressions of gratitude increases the release of dopamine and serotonin which makes us feel ‘good,’ according to the same article. So with all these, why not be filled and abound in thanksgiving?
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There are long-listed benefits of thankfulness and gratitude. How about you? Have you something to share about what it can do to you or what it has done to you? As the year ends, explore and validate its benefits by giving someone in your sphere of influence a sincere, “Thank you” and experience the benefits mentioned. Consider and recollect also what great things God has done for you this year and the previous years, and utter your sincerest thanks. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Let us be reminded in the next year ahead not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God. Be amazed of what thankfulness and gratefulness to God and fellowmen can do to you.