The Power of Five

by

”...as I was pouring out my grief, a crazy question popped in my mind…

A few days ago, I was having another fretting day. I had so many conflicts to deal with and personal affairs to attend to that I was eating my heart out the whole day I was moving around. I could almost hear the song playing in my head: “Fretty woman walking down the street, fretty woman...lalalala...”

That night, after retiring from the day’s toil, I remembered the time when I was diagnosed with SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) a.k.a. Lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease. I started re-grieving over the part that SLE took away from me. I began to fret about all the things I used to do so well.

I thought about how I used to take the jeepney for an hour’s trip to the city just to get to pre-Med school everyday. I remembered how neat and pretty I looked with my white college uniform and how my male neighbors used to have a big crush on me. I lamented that because of SLE, my college days are over and I’m never going to fulfill my dream of becoming a neurologist...ever!

I also recounted those days where I used to bum around with my friends. All those shopping sprees and dating schemes with a pool of suitors not to mention the series of soirees in schools and dormitories and a string of sorority mischiefs. Again, I lay the blame on SLE for cutting my frolicsome moments abruptly.

But as I was pouring out my grief, a crazy question popped in my mind: “Rachelle, give me five reasons why you should be happy today.”

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Rachelle Arlin Credo is a freelance writer and magazine columnist from the Philippines. She writes on a variety of topics for print and online publications.For more info, visit her website at http://www.rachelle.co.nr

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comments:

Michael Boyink

on 09/11/06

Hi Rachelle - thanks so much for contributing to StoriesAboutGod.  Your story reminded me of the Charles Swindoll quote on Attitude:

<i>"The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day."</i>

Only in your case, it’s truly finding the right attitude through gratitude.

Blessings...;)

Dave J.

on 09/11/06

What you have unwittingly applied is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_therapy">Cognitive Behavioural Therapy</a>.  (I’m certainly no expert or practitioner.)

It’s great that you’ve discovered in on your own...and even greater that you apply it every day.

Maybe I should learn how to be a practitioner. Just five reasons, huh?

on 09/13/06

THERE IS ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THAT GOD IS THE BEST.

on 10/12/06

Wonderful! Praise God ,that in our times of need he is there for us,holding our hand.That is something that all of us should do, But i would put God first on my list of things that i am greatful for.Take care!

on 04/10/07

I have had days like that too.  Feeling weighed down by the challenges of life, but God gets the glory from our praising and thanking him inspite of everything that is going on in our lives.  God bless you.  That is just wonderful.

on 05/30/07

You have touched on the SECRET. Positive thinking brings positive things. Thoughts do become things so always be positive.

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"We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done." Psalm 78:4