Count the blessing #1: A car to use, eventhough a small humble one.

Count the blessing, easier said than done, is often neglected, although it is the talk of the town, famous topics in blogs, one of the no.1 topics in character-building, widely taught by preachers at church and motivational speakers at seminar and parents at home. I know this value by heart, but sometimes it slips off my action to perform likewise when moments of stress knock at my front door.

Sometimes, I felt like a hypocrite because I taught my children to count their blessings but I myself forgot to do so (sometimes). Don't get me wrong. I am basically a person of thankfulness, it is just that when challenges or difficulties are too overwhelming for me to handle, that particular moment, I become like a child, whining (in adult's way) about the problem, and sometimes complaining about the situation as if I am the only one in the sh*t.

Therefore I want to start to pen down every single blessing that I taught my children to give thanks.

#1: Give thanks for my car

My eldest son used to complain that my car's air-conditioning is really bad, that he felt warm and kept sweating. You see, my car is 10 years old, and I don't plan to change my car yet because this car holds dear to my heart due to how I bought it in the first place.

Back then after graduated from college, I wanted to do community work for my church. One of my passions was to help my junior excel in life. So I walked to college everyday to find them, gave them free tuition and free counselling sessions. After doing this for some time, I figured out I needed a car. I worked hard for it by giving tuition daily as a tutor, becoming a part-time ice-cream promoter at shopping mall while doing church community works at night, coupled with many times I skipped some meals or I ate lesser to save money. Finally I managed to buy a car. It served me till today, although it is an old chugging car now. Will I buy a new car soon? Hm, not now as the house expenditure is still too high to cope. I give thanks for my small humble car and I taught my son likewise.

Twice, I purposely made him walked with me to a mall under scorching sun, to let him realise we are well better off than those who don't own a car, than those who need to walk to work, or wait at bus-stop for a bus, or those who need to push their vehicle like the picture below. Then he realised he is very blessed to have a chance to travel in my small humble car which air-conditioning often goes hay-wire. Now he never complains about my car anymore.

A man pushing his cart-like vehicle (Streetphotography).

My humble small 10-year-old car. Now my son loves my car like I do. He also wants to take care of it well just like me.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Bible)

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Bible)

What about you? What are you counting your blessing on today? ☺

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