By Henrylito D. Tacio

“The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles.”—Joel Osteen

How are you today? Are you feeling unwell, as though the world has forsaken you? Do you feel that no one loves you anymore? Or are you burdened with the problems of others on your shoulders?

Don’t worry. You are not alone. If trees could speak, they would have numerous tales to share as well. Listen to one tree speaking: “When I was young, I didn’t notice it. But as I grew older, I began to realize how different I was. I was short and crooked and all out of shape, while around me stood tall, stately pines and wide-branched acacia trees. I should tell you, though, that I’m clinging here to the side of a cliff, with my few roots wrapped tightly around the top of a stone.

“I often dreamed of being big and beautiful, with the wind bending me to and fro and the showers of rain washing my leaves. But here on the cliffside, I felt so small. The wind rarely blew through my branches. Even the sun warmed me for only half the day before leaving me in the shade of the cliff while it shone down fully on those majestic trees in the valley.

“Why did I have to stay here, hanging onto a cliff? I didn’t have enough soil to grow into all the beauty I felt inside. I was dissatisfied with my lot in life. Why did I have to stand here and be like this?

“But then, early one spring morning, the perfume of the new meadow flowers drifted up to me, a tiny bird perched on my branches and sang its song, and the first warm rays of sunlight kissed me long before they reached the valley floor. From up here, what a beautiful panoramic view I had—one that no other tree down there could ever see.

“From that day on, I began to see that I was something special. I was a unique kind of tree, made for a unique kind of place. None of those big, beautiful trees could do what I am doing. Why did it take me so long to realize that?”

A wise man once said, “Your presence is a present to the world.  You are unique and one of a kind.  Your life can be what you want it to be.  Take the days just one at a time.  Count your blessings, not your troubles.  Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.”

The Daily Motivator also affirms, “No matter what kind of troubles you may have, just think of how fortunate you are to be alive and living in a world where almost anything is possible. Consider for a moment the good things you have, and the good things that you can accomplish through your willingness, determination and action.”

Always see the brighter side of life.  As an ancient Persian saying goes, “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.” This reminds me of the true story of Major Frederick Franks in an article written by Suzanne Chazin for Reader’s Digest.  It goes this way: Major Frederick Franks gazed at the Christmas tree in his dull hospital room. Although it was a season meant for celebration, Franks was engulfed in sorrow. Seven months prior, in May 1970, while stationed in Cambodia, grenade shrapnel had inflicted severe damage to the lower portion of his left leg. Medical professionals were preparing for an amputation.

Franks had completed his education at the US military academy at West Point, where he served as the captain of the baseball team, and he had intended to pursue a lifelong career in the army. Now, it appeared that retirement was his only viable option.

Despite feeling that he still possessed much to contribute to the army – including combat experience, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills – he understood that soldiers with significant injuries rarely return to active service. They are required to pass an annual physical-fitness examination, which entails a three-kilometer run or walk. Franks was uncertain if he would be capable of meeting this challenge with a prosthetic limb.

Following the surgery, Franks felt the deepest sadness regarding the loss of his abilities on the baseball field. During weekly games, he would bat while another player ran the bases on his behalf. One day, as he waited for his turn to bat, he observed a teammate sliding into base. “What is the worst that could occur if I attempted the same maneuver?” he pondered.

In his subsequent turn at bat, Franks struck the ball into center field. Dismissing his runner, he commenced a painful, stiff-legged jog. As he progressed between first and second base, he observed the outfielder directing the ball towards the second baseman. Closing his eyes, he urged himself onward and slid into second base. The umpire declared, “Safe!” and Franks beamed with triumph.

Years later, Franks commanded a squadron during military drills in challenging terrain. His superiors questioned whether an amputee could meet the demands, yet Franks proved them wrong. “Losing a leg has taught me that a limitation is as significant or insignificant as you perceive it,” he remarked. “The essential factor is to focus on what you possess, rather than what you lack.”

I like that. We must regard each day as a blessing. Regardless of how minor the challenges we face may seem, consider yourself blessed. “The things that count most cannot be counted,” a friend once told me.  William A. Ward agrees: “The more we count the blessings we have, the less we crave the luxuries we haven’t.”

A timely thought from an unknown author should remind us all: “Count your blessings instead of your crosses. Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes.  Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears. Count your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean.  Count your kind deeds instead of your means. Count your health instead of your wealth.”

This Christmas, count your blessings!

“The essential factor is to focus on what you possess, rather than what you lack.”