Two weeks ago I hopped on the train from school, on my way home. I had a 'ten ride' train ticket with me. You know the kind that holes are punched into for each ride you take? Yeah, that's the one I'm talking about. It was late in the night, I wanted to buy another as all I had left was the last hole, meaning the next morning, I'd have to pay cash. The consequence of paying cash is losing my student-fare privilege of 40% off. I do study till late nights these days and had no choice but to pay for my own "sins". Back to the train ride. The train warder approached me for my ticket, I presented the one-hole remaining to be punched. He looked me in the eye and asked, "do you have a new one yet?". "No sir, the kiosk was no longer opened when I got there". He smiled and refused to be punch the hole. He gave it back to me and said, "you can use that tomorrow morning on your way to school". So excited, I said to him, "Thank you very much sir". I buried myself back into the journal articles I had printed to last me the 55mins journey.
A few days later, on my way home again, same time, but a different scenario. This time I had a ticket with only a few holes punched. It was the same train warder I met the other day; he approached me and as usual, asked for my ticket. While I presented it to him, just as he was about to punch a hole in it, I said, "thank you for the other day sir". He looked me straight in the eye, refused to punch the whole, smiled and gave it back to me. He did not say a word but I caught the lesson: "the grateful will keep getting blessed" GBAM!
Let me ask you my sweet reader, when was the last time those words came out of your mouth; "thank you for the other day"? Have you said that to your maker lately? When last did you say this to your boss in the office; even your colleagues? Have you ever said that to your spouse? I mean, do you think it is important to return to anyone that has done you good and say thank you again? I just heard someone say, "again?!" Yes, again! I meant it when I said it.
I know things are not always the way you want them but you can change that by choosing to always be grateful. I know that person that did you good recently isn't always like that, but at least, he/she did it. Quit the habit of taking things for granted. A little appreciation; maybe I should say re-appreciation can go a long way. You never know; it could get you a job tomorrow; it could fix you up for a promotion; it could get you a friend you will always thank God for. Most importantly, every day of your life, when you wake up from sleep, its one of the best times to say to God, "thank you again". There are many people without the opportunity of sleeping and waking up in peace and here you are, you get that blessing every single day, again and again... Don't be an ingrate; don't take things for granted; form an habit of appreciating people more than once.
Thanks for reading.
- Le Dynamique Professeur
