It was a foggy morning. No, it’s a smog instead. We’re closed in by very unhealthy air looming over us.
‘Oh, there’s no good thing left in me,’ I mellowed. I did it to grab her attention. She was under the weather for some days now.
‘No, don’t say that, Dad,’ she nudged.
‘You can still use it,’ she added.
‘But part of it has been removed, it’s incomplete,’ I reiterated.
‘Still, you got something; you still have a brain.’
‘Yeah, you’re right. I still got something.’
‘The good part might have been removed, I sighed.
‘But you still got another part of it, she assured.
It goes on and on.
That was how we ran a banter that morning as we tried to lighten our mood. As we quietly talked to each other, we smiled leading a mellowed moment.
She is my nine-year-old daughter who recovered from her acute gastroenteritis and fever after a few days. Interestingly, she has developed something that boosted my mind at the most needed times, like when she only knows how to give thanks.
She is very dear to me. I have written about our time alone in my book From the Sideline.
It’s true, I still have something with me. A huge part of my brain is still active and attached. I am thankful to God for that. I am grateful for all the limitations and pains a perspective of this experience has given me.
Life is full of ups and downs. We want it to go well at all times. However, we tend to think much deeper when things go down, searching for life’s meaning, purpose, and manageability.
Life is good as it is!
Come to think of it, we value more when we get something in a meager amount, tenuous condition, and filled with uncertainty.
Using what you got:
You cannot use more than what you got. When we try to use more than what we got, trouble is on the way. Therefore, I need to get enough rest and rejuvenate my brain by getting better sleep.
Then, I came to know the joy of sleeping or getting the right amount of sleep at the right time and in the right condition.
In the interim, I need to alter my way of living depending on what I got. I need to cut down on my thinking prowess and mitigate investment to keep a check on myself.
Some more book publications and the dream of learning more have been the most affected areas.
However, without all these basic things in daily life, it seems dull at times. I try my best to withhold the consistent pain or burning sensation that I have experienced all day long.
Yet when I talked about it, sometimes at the end of the day, I became a complaint or grumbling person. I don’t like that part of me either.
Nothing comes free in life. We need to respect each other’s condition and situation. It is not our designation that defines us, but the ability to help, encourage, and show an act of kindness that matters.
Using what they got:
When God uses what we still have irrespective of any measure, it is useful. Not only that, it brings glory and honors the name of the Lord.
After all, everything is in God’s hands. ‘He’s got the whole world in his hand.’
_The walking stick/staff in the hand of Moses can part the sea when it is used by the Lord God. Ex.4:2
_The scarlet cord in Rahab’s hand is the salvation of her family. Josh 2:18,21
_The trumpets, torches, and pitchers in Gideon’s hand defeated the Midianites.Judges 7
_The fresh jawbone of a donkey in Samson’s hand slay thousands of the enemies. Judges 15:15-17
_A sling in the hand of young David killed Goliath the giant.1 Samuel.17
_The widow’s oil is a small jar of olive oil that the prophet Elisha uses to help a widow out of her whole debt. 2 Kings 4:1-5
_5 loaves of bread and 2 fish from a boy in the crowd of 5000. You may read John 6
_A thorn in Paul’s flesh shows the sufficiency of God’s grace and Christ’s power in him. 2 Cor. 12:7–9
What is in your hand?
A degree, a little wealth, a little health, a little money, a little creativity, and so on.
Some gifted persons do well and are inspired by what they still have as they were focused NOT on what they did not have or lost.
Sometimes, I believe others have more than me, but that’s not necessarily true. It was only when I wanted to remain in oblivion. I would say to myself this is it for me, looking at my journey, however, I believe God has his timing.
However, it’s a matter of how we measure. We can use what we have for the glory of the Lord and in our mission. The providence of God is in our reach.
Not more than what I got:
If I could reason out with the help of the spirit, what I went through, and what I still have, I could still be useful to God.
All the hardships, good times, till now is a learning experience that taught me to pursue what is good in the eyes of the Lord.
I believe that God does not demand more than what we have. He knows how much we got. It is how we use it for his Kingdom that counts. I can’t be more than I got, I have to accept it.
In the still small voice of my dear ones, I am often reminded of what I still have. I’m thankful in life to God for his abiding grace to care for me more than I deserved.
What I got for years to come:
While I feel privileged for all that has happened to me. I will still hold onto what I have by the grace of God in the coming years as well.
It is painful to note that some are left in the open sky as their roof. A the same time, families are still stuck in the camps for displaced people. Some of them are very positive about their future. They have a little now, but the hope of time revolving gave them hope.
What I still have is my hope – the hope that whatever comes my way, will be bearable for me by the grace of God.
My shortcomings are aplenty; I’m sorry for the people and dear ones around me. At the same time, I am thankful for their patience in bearing my different moods.
Something useful:
I can’t simply adjudge myself to be a useful person although I may think so. It’s best if my God finds me useful.
I will cross the year with what I still have. And before I crossover to the yonder side, I wanted to be a useful jar for God.
In the coming years and days, it will become more worthwhile with the blessing of the Lord God. All is not lost; the good parts are still there.
I will continue to take part and try my best to play my role in the provision of the Lord. However small it may be what I still have, I believe it can be useful in the hands of God.
I still have something:
During my last visit to my doctor for this year, we had a long chat. He was busy but kind enough to answer my queries.
I have seen other patients around me. Among them, I must have been the most privileged to respond to the treatment well. I talk about being grounded for a long, but I must focus on the bright side of it.
Just as my daughter had pointed out in our humorous banter, I still got something. I can still think about something to share with you about the positivity of life and to remind myself as I write.
Let us give thanks for what we still have and also pray for each other.
I may not get much, but I hopefully, will cross onto the new year with all the little things I still have. And I wanted to make full use of what I have. The scripture added those who have little did not have too little. 2 Cor. 8:15
Furthermore, I believe things will get better. I hope the little things I still got, in God’s hand will be useful to me and for blessing others in his abiding grace.
Happy New Year 2025!
Blessings be upon you!
#youstillgotsomething
#youstillhavesomthing
