The passengers had just alighted the train and headed for the escalator to exit the station. It was a long queue at the bottom of the escalator. A little girl told her grandmother to join the queue, as any good Singaporean would do. The grandmother, however, wanted to jump queue. The little girl was quite adamant on queuing. The grandmother (not really old) told her that she need not queue as she was old. The girl told her to queue regardless. The girl did right and the ‘old’ lady was just another example of the ‘entitled group’ of people.

I believe that society in general is kind towards those who are less advantaged. Many are willing to give way to them. Some amount of priority is given to them, like priority seats in buses / trains. But such should be taken with gratefulness and grace. It should not be taken for granted. Anyone giving his seat to you is his grace towards you. Not giving it to you is his right. So, I really hope that we, as Christians, should learn to be thankful when grace is extended to us.

Do not at any time think that being thankful is natural. It is not. It is deliberate. Many mouth thankfulness but most times never quite meant it. Consider the awkward silence when an opportunity to give thanks to God during prayer meetings or gatherings. If thankfulness comes naturally, people will be rushing to do so, not waiting for the leader to move on to the next item.

Learning to be thankful helps us learn to trust God more. Knowing constantly what He does and cares for us enables us to be more intimate with Him. We can then look at the upheavals in life with a cool calm manner as we know who is really in charge. More importantly, knowing that He loves us.

Brothers and sisters, do not neglect counting your blessings. Give thanks to God for them constantly. Then and only then can we live a fulfilled blessed life.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

地铁乘客刚刚下地铁并往离开地铁站的自动扶梯。在自动扶梯的入口已经排成长龙。一个小女孩做着其他好新加坡人会做的事，就是要她的奶奶排队。可是，这一位奶奶要插队。这一个小女孩十分坚决要排队。这奶奶（不是太上年纪）告诉她因为她老了，所以可以不用排队。无论如何小女孩仍要她排队。小女孩做对事，这一个“老”妇人又成了一个被“标签人群”的例子。

我相信普遍上来说，社会对这些弱势群体是存着善心的。很多人愿意对他们做出礼让。社会也给他们一些相应的优先权，如在巴士/地铁的优先座位。但是，这应当要存着感激和感恩的心来领受。这不应被当作是理所当然。任何人让位给你是他对你恩典的施予。不让位给你是他的权利。所以，我真希望为基督徒的我们，当恩典施予我们的时候，应当要学习感恩。

我们不要时常觉得存感恩的心是很自然的事，并非如此，这是要刻意去行的。很多人都是口是心非。我们想一想，当在祷告会或聚会中向上帝感恩时那种安静的尴尬。如果感恩是自然的，人们会争着去作的，而不是等着主领者快点接续下一个的节目。

学习感恩帮助我们更信靠神。我们常知道祂所行的并眷顾我们，就能使我们更加的亲近祂。这样我们就可以以沉静的心来看待生命中的巨变，因为我们知道谁在掌管。更重要的是，我们知道祂爱我们。

弟兄姐妹，不用轻忽数算生命中的祝福。常常向神感谢。这样我们才能活出一个被祝福充满的生命。

神赐福,
在基督里与你们同工的,

Barry Leong