A Child Of God

I was brought up by my grandma living with my aunties and uncles. I lived in an environment where there was no love and not much interaction with friends or my siblings. I began to hate life. I was miserable, lonely and did not know love and how to love. My parents and grandma were not there when I needed their support. My 2nd auntie had never loved me, always trying to make my life so difficult that there were few occasions I wanted to end my life, but never once had I succeeded. For many years I would only confided to a close friend from my primary school days. One fine day when I was confiding to her, she told me about the love of God. She quoted: "God so love the world that He gave His only begotten son to die for us." I could not comprehend God’s love as I did not know what love was and being loved, having lived in an environment which was so hostile and badly treated during my childhood days. I rejected the gospel of Jesus, not once but numerous times. I even warned my friend to stop preaching to me. However, Jesus continued to find ways to reach me. He loves me. He reached out to me again but this time through a song. My friend was singing "Amazing Grace". I was touched by the tune and lyrics that I began to sing and loved it. Jesus knew my sentiment. He continued to show me His love by giving me yet another song "What a friend we have in Jesus”. Indeed, what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.” It was then I broke down in tears and wanted to find out more about this friend called Jesus. I attended church and through Bible lessons I came to know more about Him. Jesus did notice me, and He watched over me, but it was through my close friend that Jesus met my needs and that He loved me. He finally came into my life when I surrendered to Him and was baptized. He embraced me, and I heard His gently whispering "you are now part of my family.” It was then that I realized how much love would come into my life.

Over the years He changed me. He inspired me. He watched over me, challenged me to understand my calling and purpose in life. Not only did He teach me about God's love, He lived God's love. His action brought out the best in people. I was very glad as I thought I was nobody’s child but now I AM A CHILD OF GOD. I am grateful to Jesus my Lord, who had not given me up but gave me a second chance so that I can taste His kindness and goodness. I would have been lost eternally if not for Jesus’s persistent love. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]

Looking back, I find such overwhelming evidences of God’s goodness, and the only thing I can do is to thank Him for the many good gifts that He had so faithfully poured on me. I am always inspired to infuse into my daily life even more gratitude than ever before. I look forward to the years ahead with anticipation of living more fully, as I live more thankfully. I want to live “thankful” all year long, not just in good times but also in times when “blessings come through raindrops”.

In counting each blessing, I can savour it more thoroughly. I thanked Him for the great things and know where they came from. Gradually by expressing gratitude, I keep a heavenly perspective of life. I choose to see sunshine behind the darkest cloud. Hence, I keep reminding myself of the great things He has done for me. As I express my gratitude, I must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. I choose to remember how big my God is, and how much I am thankful for today and every single day of the year.