Thanking God for all small things in life this Christmas
Posted on December 5, 2009
Filed Under Blogging, General, Religion | 7 Comments
It is already December, one of my favourite months. But where did that Christmas nostalgia go? Is it missing cuz am in Delhi and not Bangalore? May be..who wants to celebrate Christmas so lonely, away from friends and family?
Delhi is getting colder day by day. It will be the coldest month of the entire year. This morning, as I was riding my two-wheeler, I had to switch on the headlight, wear a pair of strong glove and double-layered thick jacket. Oh! dear, it was dead cold.
As I was freezing and riding slow, my heart turned so vile with full of complaints and grievances. From recently my heart is in a hurly-burly state, registering too many complaints with God. Am sure, He too is tired of me nagging this much. “Why this cold? Why me always? Give me some peace..give me that..give me this…bla bla bla..”
I did feel disgusted myself. As I continued my morning ride, hurling complaints at God, I was shocked by a sight which left a poignant impact on me. I saw an entire family huddled around small wood fires, trying to protect themselves from severe cold. They are poor and homeless, but their face I must confess was much shining than mine. Gosh! how did they sleep the entire night even when temperatures have fallen several degrees further than normal. I was so moved by the sight, and was ruminating on small things in life that I must be thankful of. Can I survive in the dead chill of the night with so thin clothes? Not even in my dreams Lord!
In a country like US or UK, they have special schemes for the poor, their governments even offer them some stipend every month. That anyways is not the case here. With so much poverty, unemployment, and population explosion, where can poor and homeless people like this get comfort? They have no homes, no deposits, no idea of their next meal..etc. Think about it, dont we have so umpteen things to thank God for?
Long ago, I remember mending my prayer by excluding my wants and likes and including the small things of life which I wanted to thank God for. It might sound funny, but I really thanked God for the water I drank, for the clothes I wore, the food I ate and even the air I breathed. This morning I was reminiscing this old, happy prayer of mine that I am sure was a little eccentric to what others of my age prayed.
We really need a radical change in thought and perspective today. Have you listened to this hymn – “Count your many blessings“..Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.. True, there is so much to be thankful about. Just look back, retrospect your life, you will then realise the things God has done in your life. At least physically, dont we have a roof above us, three-time morsel, every comfort of our lives, which if compared with the needy, is worth to be thankful about. Well, this Christmas there is no better gift I can offer God than being less nagging and more thankful for the things I enjoy everyday. But, that should not make me ignore others plights. I want to suppliantly ask God to give them their daily bread, a pair of blanket and some thick clothes. How about I go a step further and give them what they want?
On the day of Mother Teresa’s birth anniversary, among many who lined to pay their tributes, was a middle-aged who wanted to thank the humanitarian icon for her act of sacrifice, which kept the woman’s family alive. She recalled her meeting with Mother Teresa one cold morning when she and her two children were shivering and wanted some extra clothes. When she approached Mother Teresa for help as she was sitting outside the verandah, the woman recalls that Mother Teresa immediately got up and removed the shawl covered around her and gave it to that woman without a second thought. That quick and selfless act saved the woman and her children that killing morning.
It is no paradox how this fragile Christian missionary conquered the hearts of millions of people around the world. She followed what she preached. Her actions were more and words less. I realise how important is such acts of love which although is small, gives life to someone. Well, as you celebrate Christmas, forget about those designer jeans you could not buy and all those little complaints you have. Ruminate on the other side of life, think about the little things in life, do some soul-searching, make it a really beautiful Christmas. More than all, let us thank God for the greatest gift he gave to mankind – Jesus Christ. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas – Adios ~ SAM
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7 Responses to “Thanking God for all small things in life this Christmas”
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Beautifully written my brother. Wish Christians a Happy Christmas!
Happy Christmas Sam,
Unfortunately I too have experienced such black moods myself to my shame and just pray that I come out of them and become more good once again.
And whenever I have felt down I felt ashamed reading about my own people during the second world war. Their homes were destroyed by the Germans bombing them but then they carried on with a cheerful heart in dire circumstances.
Reading that I thought how can I be miserable when I have everything I need and just few inconviniences.
Anyway a happy Christmas to you and all your readers.
P.S. I noticed you mentioned Mr Christopher Hitchens in your last post. It may interest you to know he has a brother who is a quite famous journalist as well in England (Peter Hitchens). Strangely he is a very conservative Anglican Christian – totally the opposite of his brother in many ways. He writes a blog for the British newspaper the Daily Mail and has written a number of books. His next to be released talks about his own spiritual journey from Communist Atheism to Anglican Christian. He and his brother are possibly the most unusual pair in British writing given their polar opposite views.
You have so correctly pointed out the importance of thanking for small things. Sometimes our problems and wants blind us from looking behind to what we have and what was done. Let Christmas be an eye opener to many!
Happy Xmas!
wow, I dint know Hitchens had a spiritual bro..quite surprising to me
Reading some of his artcs..quite curious 
We do not celebrate Christmas. Can you prove if Jesus was born on December 25 Sam? It has become now a lost festival with no meaning but just drinking and enjoying holidays. This is going astray from the Gospel. Why does the world celebrate a Christmas like this?
Happy Christmas Sam, Jinumon, Will, Vishal and everyone. JW since you do not celebrate xmas, you can pass those cakes to me, would be glad to receive, why waste. If you want avoid the cakes, make sure you stick outside your home a board saying you don celebrte it.
@JW – I believe JW stands for Jehovah’s Witness? your webpage also directs there. Your group is considered a big time cult here in India and abroad, so we wouldnt mind you not celebrating Christmas..hehe..you guys also dont celebrate birthdays right? Now dont tell me I am naive and I dont know the origin of Christmas and bla bla..Christmas for you guys is a pagan festival celebrating the Roman Mithra and sun god and etc..Also Jesus was not born on Dec. 25 and there is no proof to it..lot of things like this..yes I agree..
For me, Christmas is symbolical. It does not mean anything physical to me. I take this event as an opportunity to thank God for Christ and remember his love. My pastor always says in his sermon…”dont look at the finger..look rather at where the finger is pointing”….If you take it literally, you are losing the meaning of this beautiful day. It is not that even those who are celebrating Christmas with booze and gambling are also celebrating Christ birth? Well these are to be shunned at all cost. But like I said, take this as an opportunity, a day for you to thank God for a great sacrifice..and love..