Christmas Day and Gratitude

My Office Desk

Three days to go to the day I have been waiting for. Christmas Day. For this year, I will celebrate my Christmas Day in a very humble way. Little Christmas tree. Simple Christmas ornaments in my bed room. Several Christmas-ish things on my office desk. As simple as it is. And that is enough.

Aside that I am a Roman Catholic, there is something about Christmas that gives me a very warm heart. Some kind like a gratitude feeling that I have been through this year with all of its good and bad things. Many days, I try to humble myself and hold a couple minutes to feel thankful of everything. I simply sit or kneel, with no disturbance. I close my eyes, take a deep breathe, and think about what and who I am grateful for.

I do it every day and in this Christmas Day, I make it more special because it makes me very happy deep down inside. Grateful for each day makes such a huge difference in my life. Indeed. With the grateful feelings, I always be reminded for every positive things in my life. It makes me happy about the people, both the closest ones or even the strangers in a very unique way. It also turns bad things into the good ones. Grateful that I have great best friends, grateful that I have supportive colleagues, grateful that I have a very kind family, but not only the positive things. I grateful for every challenges appeared in my life recently. It makes me stronger and wiser. Being grateful is also reminding me of what's important, I can't even complaint about the little things, I just give thanks to my Almighty Jesus Christ, to my family, to my friends and colleagues; for a great life, a great journey, everything you mention. Being grateful makes you always remember to thank others. The simple act of thank you to someone can make a big difference in the person's life. And making someone else happy will make you happy.

Let me leave you with a prayer of gratitude that I have always found well and perfect.

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for those setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.
- Author Unknown - 

Merry Christmas 2012