18teen Reasons For My Heart to Sing
I remember it like it was just yesterday.
Running around the yard with my older brother, playing an invented game called "Shadows" to kill off the weekend boredom.
I remember screaming my loudest at the age of 10 on a fun fair ride at Gold Reef City, South Africa (The Mermaid, if I remember its name!).
I even remember the amazing feeling on 24th September 2016, when all my family and friends gathered around my beautiful birthday cake to wish me the best year to come.
As I watched the clock tick into midnight, I recapped on the great things that have happened for the past seventeen years of my life and I felt joy settle in my heart. Then suddenly, BOOM! An idea dropped. How about I share some of them with you, my beloved reader?
In this special blog post, I will share eighteen things I have been grateful for with a small sentence on explaining why I am grateful. I hope that whatever I share will inspire you and teach you to be grateful for the things you have.
I will mention a few names of people who have inspired me, some I will not. But the bottom line is, without these people, I wouldn't be the woman I am today.
Ready? Let's dive in!
I will mention a few names of people who have inspired me, some I will not. But the bottom line is, without these people, I wouldn't be the woman I am today.
Ready? Let's dive in!
1) Life and health: It is a privilege to be here, alive and healthy. From doctors examination, where they found nothing wrong with me, saying that I was fit and healthy, I am grateful that I'm still here because my story isn't finished yet!
2) My growing relationship with God, through Jesus Christ: If it wasn't for the sacrifice on Calvary, 2000 years ago, my life and everything else would be meaningless. I would not be here, happy, strong and smiling, if God had not picked me up and claimed me as His own.
3) Being Katai. My life has been a journey of self discovery and I must say, I am happy about what I have learnt about myself and how I have grown. I have now become my most favourite company, which is quite an achievement!
4) My Familia: Mum and Dad, big bro Mwansa and my family members have been the pillars who have lifted me to where I am today. I would not be here if it wasn't for their love and support.
5) My relationships with people: I have met many people of different characters, good and bad. I am grateful for each and everyone of those characters and the close relationships I have developed with the good people because they have shaped my own character.
6) Education: From the Italian School of Lusaka to the African Leadership Academy (ALA), I am grateful that I am educated for impact.
7) Discovered talents and gifts: Discovering my unique passion and talent for writing and other things makes me not only feel authentic but also be authentic.
8) Gaining vision: As I look at my black and white vision board, I know that even though I am far from attaining the vision, I at least know that I am going somewhere!
9) Good memories: Act like a sunshine to my cloudy days.
10) The tough times: Someone once said, "Don't say I'm having a bad day but rather I am having a character-building day."
11) Teachers and leaders: Issac Newton once said, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." I find this quote fitting to describe the teachers and leaders who have influenced my life so far. From school to church (United Church of Zambia Trinity Congregation, Mount Zion Christian Centre plus The Garage), I thank God for them because they that have propelled me into the path of greatness!
12) Fire Of The Lighthouse: My first self-project that is doing so well and I am truly humbled and super grateful! From the encouragement of my mentor (Thank you, Gloria) and friends, I took the bold step to start this blog a year ago for the glory of God. I am glad to see that it has helped people, especially myself in my own times of need!
13) Discipline: Whether physical or moral, most of the decisions I make today are due to the disciplines that have shaped my thinking.
14) Wisdom: "Get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). Asking God for wisdom (see James 1:5) to make the right choices has prevented me from many pitfalls that could have hindered my progress.
15) Mistakes and embarrassing situations: I don't like mistakes but I realised that mistakes are like blocks: you can either trip over them or pick them up and use them as stepping stones to success. The embarrassing situations not only keep me humble but also provide comic relief for when I am down!
16) The Word: The source of all wisdom, knowledge and revelation, The Bible has been the backbone of my life and of this blog itself. The desire to know more about God through it has made me more passionate about my walk with Christ, with the special reward: Wisdom.
17) Acts of Love: I really admire the way God has expressed His love towards me through many ways, especially through people around me. The people who go out of their way to make sure that I have what I need, reward me and celebrate my life achievements humbles me greatly. This makes me truly grateful to be alive at this moment and to be Katai!
18) Turning "18teen": Yesterday, 23rd September, was my birthday. Amidst all the excitement of finally "being legal", I embraced the knowledge that I am on a new level and with it, new challenges have surfaced. I know that I now have the legal right to make my own decisions (hopefully the right ones) and I hope that I may gain wisdom in all my endeavours and actually make my dream work!
And there you have it! My eighteen reasons that make my heart glad.
My main purpose of this article is not only to show how God has been good to me but to teach you one good principle for character building: gratitude.
Most of us have PhD's in Complaining and most times, you can agree that life has been unfair. But let me tell you something: the very fact that you can read this sentence is a blessing in itself: you are alive, educated and still have purpose!
Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, encourages us to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
In good and in bad, gratitude shows you how blessed you are and keeps you peaceful, humble and is a fuel for you to keep going even when all seems against you.
How to start: Think about one positive thing you have today. Think about how it has positively impacted your life and watch how your attitude and your mood towards your day and your life will change.
In the spirit of gratitude, I would like to give a huge THANK YOU to you, Reader. Thank you for taking time to reach the end of this post and also making the decision to read these articles: it really means a lot. I pray that God may speak to you and encourage you through these posts. Keep sharing and giving feedback: it gives me fuel to write.
Until the next post, stay blessed!
#UnderConstruction
#IAmFinallyLegal
Guide. Light. Inspire
2) My growing relationship with God, through Jesus Christ: If it wasn't for the sacrifice on Calvary, 2000 years ago, my life and everything else would be meaningless. I would not be here, happy, strong and smiling, if God had not picked me up and claimed me as His own.
3) Being Katai. My life has been a journey of self discovery and I must say, I am happy about what I have learnt about myself and how I have grown. I have now become my most favourite company, which is quite an achievement!
4) My Familia: Mum and Dad, big bro Mwansa and my family members have been the pillars who have lifted me to where I am today. I would not be here if it wasn't for their love and support.
5) My relationships with people: I have met many people of different characters, good and bad. I am grateful for each and everyone of those characters and the close relationships I have developed with the good people because they have shaped my own character.
6) Education: From the Italian School of Lusaka to the African Leadership Academy (ALA), I am grateful that I am educated for impact.
7) Discovered talents and gifts: Discovering my unique passion and talent for writing and other things makes me not only feel authentic but also be authentic.
8) Gaining vision: As I look at my black and white vision board, I know that even though I am far from attaining the vision, I at least know that I am going somewhere!
9) Good memories: Act like a sunshine to my cloudy days.
10) The tough times: Someone once said, "Don't say I'm having a bad day but rather I am having a character-building day."
11) Teachers and leaders: Issac Newton once said, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." I find this quote fitting to describe the teachers and leaders who have influenced my life so far. From school to church (United Church of Zambia Trinity Congregation, Mount Zion Christian Centre plus The Garage), I thank God for them because they that have propelled me into the path of greatness!
12) Fire Of The Lighthouse: My first self-project that is doing so well and I am truly humbled and super grateful! From the encouragement of my mentor (Thank you, Gloria) and friends, I took the bold step to start this blog a year ago for the glory of God. I am glad to see that it has helped people, especially myself in my own times of need!
13) Discipline: Whether physical or moral, most of the decisions I make today are due to the disciplines that have shaped my thinking.
14) Wisdom: "Get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). Asking God for wisdom (see James 1:5) to make the right choices has prevented me from many pitfalls that could have hindered my progress.
15) Mistakes and embarrassing situations: I don't like mistakes but I realised that mistakes are like blocks: you can either trip over them or pick them up and use them as stepping stones to success. The embarrassing situations not only keep me humble but also provide comic relief for when I am down!
16) The Word: The source of all wisdom, knowledge and revelation, The Bible has been the backbone of my life and of this blog itself. The desire to know more about God through it has made me more passionate about my walk with Christ, with the special reward: Wisdom.
17) Acts of Love: I really admire the way God has expressed His love towards me through many ways, especially through people around me. The people who go out of their way to make sure that I have what I need, reward me and celebrate my life achievements humbles me greatly. This makes me truly grateful to be alive at this moment and to be Katai!
18) Turning "18teen": Yesterday, 23rd September, was my birthday. Amidst all the excitement of finally "being legal", I embraced the knowledge that I am on a new level and with it, new challenges have surfaced. I know that I now have the legal right to make my own decisions (hopefully the right ones) and I hope that I may gain wisdom in all my endeavours and actually make my dream work!
And there you have it! My eighteen reasons that make my heart glad.
My main purpose of this article is not only to show how God has been good to me but to teach you one good principle for character building: gratitude.
Most of us have PhD's in Complaining and most times, you can agree that life has been unfair. But let me tell you something: the very fact that you can read this sentence is a blessing in itself: you are alive, educated and still have purpose!
Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, encourages us to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
In good and in bad, gratitude shows you how blessed you are and keeps you peaceful, humble and is a fuel for you to keep going even when all seems against you.
How to start: Think about one positive thing you have today. Think about how it has positively impacted your life and watch how your attitude and your mood towards your day and your life will change.
In the spirit of gratitude, I would like to give a huge THANK YOU to you, Reader. Thank you for taking time to reach the end of this post and also making the decision to read these articles: it really means a lot. I pray that God may speak to you and encourage you through these posts. Keep sharing and giving feedback: it gives me fuel to write.
Until the next post, stay blessed!
#UnderConstruction
#IAmFinallyLegal
Guide. Light. Inspire
This post in itself offers not only lessons and insight but a reminder. I think sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the problems in our lives that we forget the blessings and the little things God has done for us.
ReplyDeleteWe overlook the good and focus plainly on the bad so as to fill ourselves with negativity, fatigue, sorrow and weakness. This weakness fundamentally opens us up to the snares of the devil as he starts throwing problems our way to make it worse and worse. These kind of things are good to share, as these experiences, though they aren't shared by everyone, they are in some sense relatable. The pure fact that they are simple, in the most case, reminds us as the reader that we do have things to be grateful for. It reprimands us and tells us that "no matter what, there is something you should thank God for."
I think for me one of the most valuable lessons I have picked from here is not only the importance of gratitude and the discipline which comes with it, but that in my current philosophy (the beauty in calamity) there is room for more gratitude as it states that : "The beauty in hard times is that joy is inevitable and like wine, the joy gets better the longer it takes to come." but does not have any part where it calls for greatfulness. I think I have gotten into a state of taking God for granted and this reminded me to stay grateful.
Compliments to you, as this blog entry not only shows how deeply ingrained gratitude is to you but how deeply ingrained God is in your life and in your writing. This blog post touched my life and my night today and I want to thank you for that. For allowing yourself to be the messenger or the medium of this and for staying faithful and true.
THANK YOU