I survived!

( Me and my Angels...minus Mikka who is now in Dubai)

I am not a victim. There are no lost causes. "I've been there, done that, and know suffering -- but it's all good." I'm still standing. Self-pity is an excuse to do nothing. To appeal to sympathy for pity's sake is to seek affirmation of the choice to do nothing.

I am empowered by the spirit and support of meaningful experiences and I transform with silent resilience. I live my life with remarkable gratitude because LIFE IS GRATITUDE!

There may have been a lot else wrong in my life - it was not a tranquil journey I have gone through but what matters is being grateful of what was right. As a mother, there were so many times I feel like my kids are not grateful to me and this makes me miserable.

Nevertheless, I did not focus on my kids' seemingly lack of gratitude but instead, I focused on being grateful each day for the blessings and privileges of having been able to spend so many years of my life giving to them.

At the lowest moments, I rarely complain, rather, I am thankful for experiencing the joy of self-sacrifice. The challenges of being a single parent taught me to get on my knees and pray in desperation. With living a life of gratitude, I imbibed the notion that the glass is half-full not half-empty.

Admittedly, at some point I get a restless feeling that I could only be happy and thankful if the things in my life were different. But I have known in my experience that when I let expectations and demands dominate our relationships, the result is disastrous.

Amidst all the ordeals, the tragedies, misfortunes and all the heart-breaking experiences I have gone through...I am very grateful that I SURVIVED and HURDLED them all! The secret? See everything in our lives - at all times- as the merciful and loving provision of a gracious God.

So if there is someone who made a difference in your life that you need to thank, don't put it off - go home today and do this. It is the season of giving thanks and for tangibly articulating and demonstrating our gratitude!