Gratitude

I love the idea of making certain 'raw materials' from the nature into some useful shapes and goods. Cooking would be the first in my list. Even though I don't really know many receipts of foods, but I really enjoy of making the separated ingredients into one delicious menu. When I was a child I also loved the art of clay, especially when the heavy tropical rain made lots of mud in my house, I was so glad to making 'sculptures' of chicken, candles and etc.

When I think of this, I realize that many times what provided along our way are like various ingredients of delicious menu. What I receive now are something still under constructions. I have to admit that it's not rare for me to assume that my friends when they interact me are already ready. When I got the mentor for example, I assumed that my mentor must be like this and that, first it sounds like an expectation, but later it became a kind of preoccupations of 'what?? he should ...." or "she should..." and "they should...". But if it's ignored, the disappointments and dissatisfaction can be great challenge in the latter days for love to grow.

This reminds me to the some lines of a beautiful morning prayer I really love, "Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction that your [Lord's] will governs all".
How beautiful it is to have a gentle and opened heart, to welcome and to respect everybody. When we give up our own measurements i.e. preoccupations, judgments... toward others, we will be able to welcome them in love. We trust that love from the Lord which is in us can transform both ourselves and also those who are with us. Yes and it can be a long and slow process, but love is victorious. May the Lord grant us wisdom to receive joyfully what He provides in our way; a courage to act in love and sobriety and to keep our hearts toward Him, the source of our True Joy!

Lord, thank You for everything You sent me today and always! Let me not grumble but joyfully accept it and let me be your vessel to transform whatever comes in Your Faithfulness. For Your will is always the best and all things declare Your Glory, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages! Ameyn!