Flesh to eat? Blood to drink? So that I can have eternal life? To even believe that there is life after this one? then to love and serve others before myself? To be the last? To be humble? Indeed, these sayings are hard to accept. Why do I even entertain them? In fact during the time of Jesus, because of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. But even as I pause and pray over these impossibilities and improbabilities, it is the Lord at work. This is not my own doing. This is God’s doing.
When I look at my life, I have a lot to be thankful for. Even if there were no afterlife, I would still need an eternity to be truly grateful for all that good things that have happened in my life. I say together with Peter: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
I thank the Lord for my life. I did not ask for it nor did anything to deserve it yet here I am alive! It is great to be than not to be.
I thank the Lord for Anabelle in my life. I have often written, I cannot really count my blessings unless I begin with her. Together, we have done things and gone places unimaginable.
I thank the Lord for Ima for being His instrument to bring me into this world. From her, I learned the value and joys of relationships.
I thank the Lord for Tatang for being the strong abiding presence of courage and daring in facing life, never daunted by the challenges. From him, I got my zest for living.
I thank the Lord for my brothers and sister. With them and through them, I learned what is means to look out for one another.
I thank the Lord for the gifts that are Martin, Mickey and Macky. I believe the Lord was being more generous giving them to me as sons than He was in giving me to them as their father.
I thank the Lord for all the people who have enriched my life: many in major ways, many more in ways I will probably never realize nor understand.
I thank the Lord for the nature that have inspired and invigorated me, seeing God’s handiwork unspoiled by human tinkering.
I thank the Lord for the events He has allowed to happen in my life, subtly showing me His presence and His hand every step of my life journey.
I thank God for this world full of colors, showing me that the God who made these colors is the God of limitless possibilities.
I thank God for unexpected kindnesses from unexpected people and places, showing me there in gainsaying God’s love and generosity.
I thank God for every new day that dawns for it is yet another 24 hours to enjoy and appreciate the blessings He pours unceasingly into my life. Each moment of the 34 million minutes I have been alive is a blessing. And many times, the Lord is able to pack several blessings in just a minute.
Yes, the list is endless and can go on forever.
How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said,
“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, “Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.”
John 6:60-65