Kailan tayo nakaka-alaalang magpasalamat

Pag ang tao pinakikinabangan natin, lahat ng panuyo at magandang papuri ibinibigay natin sa kanya. Pag ang tao nakagawa sa atin ng kabutihan, napakarami nating ibinabalik na parangal --- siya'y napakabait, napakamaalalahanin o napalamatulungin. Sa lahat ng mga nagawang tama ng isang kaibigan, kakilala o kahit isang estrangero, ang nakikita natin ay ang naging mabuting dulot nito para sa sarili natin. May silbi ang taong ito, at ninanais pa natin na sana patuloy siyang makagawa ng kabutihan.

May mga tao naman na sa kabila ng ibinigay mo na ang lahat, hindi pa rin nasisiyahan. Hindi niya nakikita ang naging epekto nito sa kanya. Minsan nga buhay na ang ipinagkaloob, parang bale wala pa rin. Iniaalay mo ng buong puso ang iyong pag-ibig, pero bakit parang may hinahanap pa, bakit parang nakukulangan pa.

Hanggang kailan ang sukdulan ng ating kasiyahan? Ganyan din sa  ating Panginoon. Lumalapit lang tayo sa Kanya pag may kailangan, pag wala na tayong takbuhan at wala nang madaingan. Sa mahiwagang paraan sinasagot Niya ang ating mga daing, tinatanggap Niya ang ating mga papuri at pasasalamat. Yun eh kung nagpapasalamat talaga tayo. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa lahat ng buting ibinigay nya. Pero hindi sa lahat ng masama at problemang dinadanas natin. Minsan kailangan dumaan tayo sa mga pagsubok para mabatid natin na ito pala ang sinasabi kong mahiwagang sagot ng Diyos. Kung hindi natin malalagpasan ang pagsubok hindi natin malalaman ang ating kakulangan at kahinaan.

Sa panahon na tayo'y malakas, masigla at sagana nagpapasalamat tayo, pero sa panahon ng pighati, kalungkutan o paghihirap -- kulang na lang sumbatan natin Siya. Kung bakit ginawa naman nating maging mabuting lingkod Nya, pero bakit natin dinadanas ang hindi natin gusto o hindi natin gustong mangyari sa mga mahal natin.

Ang Panginoon sa ating paglapit sa Kanya, ay nagpapasalamat na, "Hay! Salamat na lang anak at naalala mo Ako." baka ang nasambit Nya. Sa ating pagdarasal, maikli o mahaba isa lang ang ninais Nya ang maging malaya at bukas ang ating isipan sa iniaalay Niyang pag-ibig sa ating lahat. Kaya sa anu pa man pagdurusa, pagkabigo, pagkabasag at maging kasiyahan, tagumpay at kaluwagan ng puso maging mapagsalamat, walang oras at walang pagkakataon. Parang bahagi na nang ating buhay, parang umiinom na lang ng tubig at naglalakad sa daan, na  ang nasasambit natin ay salamat sa Diyos, sa pagiging kaagapay namin sa lahat ng pagsubok.

Let us pray for all our children

The Seven Holy Virtues

1. HUMILITY - is defined as, "A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake." St. Bernard defines it as, "A virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of Humility."

2. CHARITY - means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others. The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.

3. KINDNESS - is the act or the state of being kind and marked by charitable behaviour, marked by mild disposition, pleasantness, tenderness and concern for others.

4. PATIENCE - is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.

5. CHASTITY - is sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral norms and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion. In Jewish, Christian and Islamic religious beliefs, acts of sexual nature are restricted to the context of marriage. For unmarried persons therefore, chastity is identified with sexual abstinence. Sexual acts outside or apart from marriage, such as adultery, fornication and prostitution, are considered sinful. Chastity therefore requires marital fidelity.

6. TEMPERANCE - (Sophrosyne in Greek is defined as “moderation in action, thought, or feeling; restraint.” It is considered a virtue, a core value that can be seen consistently across time and cultures. It is considered one of the four Cardinal Virtues, for it is believed that no virtue could be sustained in the face of inability to control oneself, if the virtue was opposed to some desire. Temperance is generally defined by control over excess, so that it has many such classes , such as abstinence, chastity, modesty, humility, prudence, self-regulation, and forgiveness and mercy; each of these involves restraining some impulse, such as sexual desire, vanity, or hatred.

7. DILIGENCE - is a zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work, exemplified by a decisive work ethic, budgeting of one's time, monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness, and putting forth full concentration in one's work.

with Permission from: Ismael Ayles. Facebook