… at magpasalamat kayo sa Diyos sa lahat ng pagkakataon; sapagkat ito ang kalooban ng Diyos para sa inyo sa inyong pakikipag-isa kay Cristo Jesus.

1 Mga Taga-Tesalonica 5:18

Nagdadabog palabas ng bahay ang teenager na si Menchu. Bored na bored na siya sa pagkakakulong sa kanilang compound for weeks. “Panay na lang Zoom, panay Grab delivery. Sawang-sawa na ako sa lockdown na ito!”, sabay hablot at tapon ng face mask. Lumagpak ang mask sa may garden kung nasaan ang kanyang Tita Ling.

“Count your blessings, iha,” paalala ni Tita Ling. “Gratitude is our antidote to the poison of discontent. Halika, tingnan mo ito.” Inabot ni Tita Ling kay Menchu ang isang pasong tila na-overtake na ng damo. “Weeds grow without being tended. It’s like complaining. It’s so natural for us humans to do. You don’t need to teach a baby how to complain. But developing a thankful heart is hard work. It’s like tending a garden. You have to water it, till the soil, tanggalin ang dead leaves, bunutin ang mga ligaw na damo.”

In Psalm 107:22, the psalmist tells us, “Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.” Hindi nga kasi madali, hindi talaga normal ito sa tao, pero maganda ang bunga.

Menchu received that weed-grown gift that afternoon. As she pulled each weed, she started to give thanks. Nung una medyo mahirap, may halo pa ring complaints. “Thank You for the electric fan kasi ang init-init. Thank You that I have my brother, kahit na minsan makulit.” Habang nagdidilig, she would go through her list, “Thank You for the Grab delivery, thank You for Zoom. Thank You for the Internet. Thank You for my cellphone.” Habang pinapractice niya ito araw-araw, unti-unti na ring nagbago ang ipinapagpasalamat niya. “Thank You that my family is well. Thank You that I have a home. Thank You that we have a garden.” Nang nabunot na ang mga damo, nabungkal ang lupa at nadiligan, nakahinga na ang munting rose plant. Menchu cared for that plant until it flourished. Paglabas ng una nitong bulaklak, excited niya itong ipinagyabang kay Tita Ling. Nagyakapan ang dalawa, “Thank You for my Tita Ling!” ang kanyang naiiyak na nasabi. What a priceless Instagrammable moment it was!