In everything, give thanks --- 1st lesson in 2016

This is quite a striking realization I had today (well since I stepped into this happy place of mine), here in the place I can confidently "my own", the island of Bohol.

An uncle, I call as Ingko Mar, has always been brief and punchy when it comes to giving life's lesson's here and there.

"In everything, give thanks." --1Thessalonians 5:18

Ingko Mar drives me to where I wanna go in Bohol 

God did not say "In all good things, give thanks" but He said in "all things" which therefore include those things we never want to be included ...or wish it was never included in the very first place.

Repeat.
"All things"

It sounds so boring, like a religious chant...too positive like spoken by someone who never touched ground...someone who never knew what it feels to be rejected, unappreciated and worst, blamed.

But then, there is actually some sense in thinking that way.. in maintaining a grateful heart, despite everything.

Ingko Mar is a living example of that line's success.  He never had a very fancy job.  I've known him to be on his Isuzo motorcycle with a rice sack containing his tools at the sides or at the passenger seat.  He goes round Bohol.. leaves on Monday and returns Friday.

He repairs all types of electronic stuffs, from irons, stoves, cassettes, tape recorder, video cams, Betamax.  He puts up wirings of some sorts.
He earns a maximum of P300-P500 for every round Bohol...and that after he got harmed by dogs (either being chased or clumsily crossing), partly electrocuted, insulted by some customers and worst, unpaid or gi "tumbling".

But Ingko has always been calm and smiling.  Just by looking at his face makes you feel refreshed.

You think life was easy for him? He has six children, four boys and two girls who's age gap will make you sing Do-Re-Mi.  And his wife Manang Panya, was the typical rural wife...housewife.

Yet they were able to have all of them finished school. We wondered... how did he survived?

Ingko said, there were times that that he did not have a single "Ta" (kuarta, he is so fond of cute abbreviations ever since)

There were a lot of payables and there was no money to buy food for the family.  Ingko is so manggiuwawon... Asking from his siblings is always the last option.

"Pero naa ra may muhatag bisan di pangajoan, moabot ra jud (But there are people who will give even without us asking, it will just arrive)" Ingko said.

Always and always, he said, he thanked the Lord... He thanked the Lord almost a hundred times everyday.

No he is not unrealistic, for him, saying thanks is real...coz it is like a MAGIC word, like he is still telling the 6 year old me.

Saying thanks, being grateful works like MAGIC.

Ingko said : 

1.  Saying thanks, makes you close your eyes and breathe.  It therefore prevents you from saying bad things about any situation you are into.  Instead of cursing or blaming, it gives you the ample gap just to stop yourself from being rude.

2.  Saying thanks and again and again gives you time to evaluate your moves.  Hey, something's wrong but you're saying thanks coz look at the scheme and see whats wrong....or perhaps there was no scheme at all!  You can then identify that so called "bolt" which was a bit off in your life.. And then you can do things that will improve those or find a replacement.  It gives you time to know your capabilities again.

3. Saying thanks and all the time is healthy for the heart, for the brain and is therefore good for the skin --- It is an instant, cheap anti ageing --beauty enhancer! Of course Ingko did not say this..Its actually mine.. but what could be the most potent effect than being young!

So whatever sh** we are into, even if we could not understand where the road is leading us ...we say thanks..because no matter how corny it may sound..but everything...always works for good!

FOR taking time to read this.... THANK YOU!

Don't ever be shy to thank me too... Happy New Year!