A popular hymn says we should “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done”. Many Christians sing the words, but I wonder how many of us understand that you can only count as a blessing what you acknowledge is a blessing, or that you can only show gratitude for something if you do not feel entitled to it. With this settled, this birthday article begins.
Continue reading “Grace and Another Birthday”Tag: Gratitude
When Privilege Comes Knocking
“Count your blessings, name them one by one;
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done”
The quote above is from a popular Christian hymn, “Count Your Blessings” by Johnson Oatman Jnr, however, fear not; this is not a proselytising article. The hymn just kept ringing in my head as I picked up my laptop to compose this article. I’m typing this article at the twilight of Good Friday 2019, influenced by four key events from the receding week.
Continue reading “When Privilege Comes Knocking”Effort Sans Celebration
“The noir hero is a knight in blood caked armour. He’s dirty and he does his best to deny the fact that he’s a hero the whole time”
— Frank Miller
This morning I woke up seeing the day like any other day. On my way to church, I felt the morning was a bit chilly, so I checked the weather on my phone. Surprisingly, a weather report declared today as “Fathers’ Day”. Seriously? It seems unlike its vastly less popular sister, Fathers’ Day manages to creep on us unnoticed. Continue reading “Effort Sans Celebration”
To My Dad, For the Thanks I Fail to Say
Today, 18 June 2017 is recognised in several countries as “Father’s Day”. In a world where a substantial number of children now grow up with their mothers as single parents, the role of fathers has never been more critical. There are people with the natural ability to deliver semen and whose semen have found a way to fertilise a female’s egg, and there are others who have not just delivered semen but have helped to nurture the resulting new life. However, while demonising the former, society has failed to recognise the sacrifices of the latter group. Continue reading “To My Dad, For the Thanks I Fail to Say”
Thankful, Now and Always
International Women’s Day, Mothering Sunday, Mothers’ Sunday, Mothers’ Day…different names, some with different dates, yet having the same central theme. There may be a myriad of days devoted in different countries around the world to celebrate women, especially mothers, but no matter how many days we set aside, they would never be enough to say thanks. Continue reading “Thankful, Now and Always”
A Case for Gratitude
When was the last time you showed gratitude to anyone? Thanks to many of us in this generation thinking that the world revolves around us, aided by a sense of entitlement, gratefulness is hardly on the agenda any more. It’s as if everyone around us is an indentured servant. Continue reading “A Case for Gratitude”
To My Mom and Every Other Mother
Today, in Nigeria and in several other countries, Mothering Sunday 2015 is being marked. It’s a day when mothers appear in the limelight as stars in their respective churches.
I hear there’s also a Father’s Day, but it ain’t got no swag like Mothering Sunday.
Here’s a poem in honour of all mothers on Earth, with my own mom marching as the vanguard. Continue reading “To My Mom and Every Other Mother”
A Time for Thanksgiving
In Church yesterday, the sermon was on “Thanksgiving”. I have listened to quite a number of gratitude-themed messages, but I could not help but think about the pastor’s words. One thing I have learnt and that fascinates me about God’s Word, is its ability to appear fresh every time. Continue reading “A Time for Thanksgiving”