I distinctly recall an incident in my early life, when I was about seven or eight years old. It was my birthday, and I was doing full speed ahead to get my homework over and done with. I was full of expectation at some fabulous surprise for my special day.
No sooner had I finished my last bit of work than I called out to my sister and brother to come over and help me pack up my things. I was spying them out of the corner of my eye whispering to each other and slipping quietly away from where I was sitting. I called out again, this time somewhat more nervously, since I started suspecting some sort of conspiracy against me. Still they would not hear and continued walking away. Finally, no longer able to stomach the fact of being so utterly ignored, I burst out in a fit of yelling and banging, shouting all the abuse I could think of and, to top it all, throwing my school satchel at them.
The satchel came down with a loud bang a few feet away from them strewing all my school things over the floor. As I approached the spot fuming in anger to pick up everything again, I spotted a brightly wrapped parcel in the midst of my books. It was a birthday gift that my brother and sister had secretly slipped in my satchel hoping to surprise me when I would start to pack my things. I was speechless, transfixed to that spot. It certainly was one of the most shameful moments I can recall. I had worked it all out so dreadfully wrong!
I still recall this incident with quite a bit of shame. At the same time, I cannot help feeling amazed thinking how often it has repeated itself in my life, even though I had vowed never to go through such an embarrassing experience. This incident keeps repeating itself in my life, no longer with my brother and sister though but with, none other than God himself.
You see, God works, very often, in the same manner with all of us throughout our lives. He continuously slips his gifts to us, unsuspecting recipients. Most of the time we behave in the same ungrateful manner. We are faced with all sorts of situations, which He permits, to our best advantage. Most often we are, however, unappreciative, very often ungrateful, and we continually grumble and grumble until, if ever, we come to realise that whatever happened was in actual fact God’s surprise gift to us.
This is why I keep praying for the grace of Discernment or enlightenment in order to be able to perceive what lies “hidden” behind every situation that befalls me. In this lies the secret of eternal life, or, happiness as we more commonly refer to it. Being forever grateful, appreciative and at peace no matter what circumstances you may go through.
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