“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness.” – Charles Spurgeon

Sinabi ni Hesus in the Book of St John 10:10, “I came to give you life to enjoy…” Kaya hindi ako naniniwala na dapat parusahan natin ang ating mga sarili dahil mas gusto ng Diyos na mahirapan tayo para makapasok sa langit. For me, this is an incorrect theology.

May mga nagtatanong: “Is it God’s will na maghirap ako?” The answer is no. Mapapansin mo na ang isa sa mga pangalan ng Lord is: “El Shaddai” which means that He is the God Of More Than Enough. Look at all His miracles, the Lord never gave His people with just enough. The Bible says this: “Siskik, liglig, umaapaw…” “Jesus fed the 5,000 men from the 2 fish and 5 breads” God gave them 12 more baskets extra.“from nothing, Jesus told Peter to go back to the sea when he caught so much that his boat was about to sink.” All these are just proof that God is the God whose happiness is to give more what we need. Do not doubt the goodness and generosity of the Lord because He loves you to enjoy abundance.

Hindi tayo nilikha ng Diyos para magdusa. He created us for us to enjoy His favor and goodness. Kaya ako pag bumibili ng sapatos or damit or anumang gamit, ginagamit ko kaagad. In fact, I will put in the box my old shoes to wear the new shoes right after the sales clerk handed it to me! Why? Because I may not have time to enjoy it as tomorrow is not guaranteed.

May mga taong bibili ng magagandang baso at tasa pero ang ginagamit sa pagkain ay bao ng niyog, nagka kamay sila pag kumakain kahit may mga naka display na golden spoon sa cabinet na naka locked. Yon daw mga primera klaseng baso at tasa ay para sa mga “unexpected” guests. Bibili ng mga bagong sofa tapos may takip na kumot or plastic at bawal upuan dahil “for display only”. Kaya ayon sa katagalan na luma na at hindi na napakinabangan.

One of the ways that we will thank God is by using everything He gave us. Natutuwa ang Lord pag ating nagagamit, napapakinabangan at nae-enjoy ang mga bagay na ibinigay Niya sa atin.

Another philosophy na maganda: “Enjoy what you have and do not covet what you don’t have.” Pasalamatan mo na ang meron ka ngayon kesa hanap-hanapin mo yong wala. Marami kase sa atin, kung alin yong wala, yon ang hinahanap kaya hindi tuloy nagiging masaya. Life is about enjoyment of what you have right now and not looking for something that makes you unhappy. Kahit na ang ilong mo ay pango, huwag mo palaging hangarin na sana maging pointed nose ka, dahil pag tiningnan mo ang buhay mo, maraming magagandang ibinigay sa iyo ang Lord na dapat mong ipagpasalamat. Kung ikaw man ay 4’ 11’ lang, huwag ka ng malungkot dahil hindi ka nakasali sa binibining kangkongan. Huwag mo ng pangarapin na sana Amerikano ka para nasa USA ka sana at mas maganda ang buhay. Hindi naman lahat ng nasa first world country ay necessarily happy.

Happiness is a choice so find something to be happy about. Choose to celebrate life. Epicurus said: “not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance. Habang may buhay, kaya pa at afford pa, enjoy life to the fullest. Don’t be too serious na halos na-deprived na tayo ng fun and happiness dahil naging sobrang focused tayo or busy tayo sa iba’t-ibang alalahanin sa buhay.

In the Book of St Mark 4:19, “But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.” Tama ang kasabihan, “aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo.” Anupang silbi ng maraming bahay, maraming kotse at alahas pero hindi mo naman nagamit? Mas ok pa yong kokonte ang meron sila, pero na-enjoy naman nila ang bunga ng kanilang pagod at pagsisikap. In Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, “So go eat your food and enjoy it with gladness; drink your wine ·and be happy with a glad heart because that is what God wants you to do.” Enjoy life while you can!