Being content and thankful

1. Being thankful
The Lord said in the bible, "in everything give thanks". We have often neglected to give thanks in small and big things that come our way. We neglect saying thanks to those who's serve us - from the yaya who helps us int he house, to the waitress in the restraints , and to our husbands. We don't say thanks because we feel we are entitled. This entitled mentality has corrupted even our relationship with other people. We feel that we have the right to be served. This kind of entitled mentality is what hinders us from being thankful and grateful.
2. How one keeps complaining and seeing what's wrong
We have always been complaining - from big things in our country to small things in our daily lives. I actually am guilty in this part. We tend to do self pity and see everything that's wrong in our life , and not realized that he lord has blessed us so much. I have a friend who does complain a lot. He complains about how his uncle ( who manages the company) lives a luxurious life, while they live a simple one. How their uncle goes to fine dining restaurants, while their family simply goes to middle class restaurants. Everyday , he complains about his uncle. Then, one sau, I just had it and told him, how blessed he is and how he should stop comparing his life with his uncle's. Often, we keep comparing our lives to other people and we pity ourselves. But why compare? The Lord does give each one of us talents according to our measure. If we are prudent and faithful stewards, The Lord will bless us with more.
3. Ungrateful heart
Our character and attitude is a manifestation of what is in our hearts. When we keep on complaining and comparing our lives with others, God will see that what we have in our heart is deceit. We really need to allow The Lord tore new us day by day, hat our heart be cleansed our spirit be burning with fire for The Lord. We need tor ealize that having an ungrateful heart is having evil in our hearts. It corrupts and usurps our being. I have met some people who are consumed by their pride. Because of pride in their heart, they refuse to show emotion - love towards their children and humility towards others. Because of their pride, they want to maintain a "macho" image forever. But real strength comes when we show humility and God's power strengthens us within. Real power comes from God, not from human capabilities. Real victory and success comes from God's power working within us.
4. Problem in our culture - complain
Last night, we had a great chat with a mom at school. She's also a dear friend. She has been experiencing a lot of challenges and problems in her personal life. Then we talked about how people (I.e parents) in the Philippines over reacts , attacks and insults teachers. People have lost their respect to teachers and have treated them like yayas. Remember the mom I told you about who's id she's busy running her business to pick up her kid, so the teachers should take care of her child? It's not jus one mom. Filipino parents have treated teachers like that. I have friends who are teaching in Manila who have been encountering the same thing. Parents - people have been so self absorbed that they complain about everything and anything. It's like a white sheet of paper with a tiny black dot in the middle.t hey focus on the black dot, than appreciate and make use of the whole white big part. It's micro- manage over macro manage. That's Filipino culture.  And we need to move pass this.
5. Secret to contentment
And the key is to learn to be content. We really need to ask The Lord to grant us a thankful heart, to learn to be content. We live in the society - in a world where everything leads to another. We keep on wanting for more. Materialism and commercializations have corrupted what's important in life. We need to see that it's not what God has planned for us. When God created us! it was not to buy stuff, or. To be fashionable. We need to realize the purpose of clothing, our housing, of cars, of food. Being consumed by "buying" mentality will simply make us worldly. And God is very clear in His word. " we are not for this world, nor of this world."