Gibran, Sand & Foam poem

How mean am I
when life gives me gold
and I give you silver,
and yet I deem myself generous

That particular poem rung a chord with me. The truthfulness of those four lines had me pausing for a couple of minutes, thinking back, knowing that I’m guilty of the very same mindset. God has blessed me many times over and generally my life has been quite good although boring, sometimes without me even trying, all thanks due to God’s infinite mercy and his bountiful compassion. Yet do I thank him? Praise him? Acknowledge his kindness to me and act accordingly?

Not often enough.

It's usually when I remember to and when the mood strikes or I’m wanting something from him. I’m sorry to say it but i’s kind of an oversight. Like ‘maybe if I thank you and show appreciation for what you have already given me, maybe you would grant my plea’. That might work with people, but how can one deceive the All-Hearing, All-Seeing? Our relationship of worship shouldn’t have negotiation.

However, if I go out of my way to do someone a favour, or just do a simple random act of kindness I usually expect gratitude, deep down inside. Of course I wouldn’t express it vocally, but I ‘deem myself generous’ and I want some kind of acknowledgment for my ’supposed kindness’.

Thank you Allah. For my life, for my family, for what I have, for what is in my future, thank you for all the times you have answered my prayers, thank you for creating me and guiding me and continuing to guide me whenever I’ve fallen astray of the path.

I hope that I receive your mercy and compassion, always.