your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight…” –Proverbs 3:6
After being crowned Miss Universe last Monday, Filipinos thanked Catriona Gray for winning the title. They also thanked Mark Tumang, who designed her now-iconic “Mayon” gown; along with expressing appreciation for her “lava walk,” which made heads turn. Additionally, the public lauded her brilliant answers to questions posed throughout the pageant. However, I did not see, read, or hear anybody thank God for giving Catriona her beauty and intelligence.
It would appear the newly-crowned Miss Universe’s victory came solely from man, which is not acceptable.
All blessings, guidance, and protection people enjoy come from God. If an individual is attractive, rich, or smart, it is only because of God.
For me, it was jarring to see nobody, at that moment of victory, express gratitude for the true source of Catriona’s success – right, Senator Pacquiao?
Ingratitude
This phenomenon of ingratitude reminded me of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. We can read this story in Luke 17:
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Because of this, Jesus asked: ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”
Many may dispute this but it is a troublesome matter among Filipinos, along with people around the world.
Like the Filipino ballad popularized by the late Rico J. Puno, during times when man is happy and content, he forgets there is no forever and everything has an end; “But when sadness or tragedy strikes, that is the time people will remember God,” as the song goes.
What is truly lamentable is this ingratitude, or turn away from God, is not only a malady of beauty contests. It is a cancer permeating all aspects of life (sports, politics, everyday life, et al).
This is the one reason why “good luck” refuses to consistently visit many – we forgot the true source.
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Thank God, in the name of Jesus, free legal assistance program “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas” is back! The show airs Mondays to Fridays, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Star Radio Catbalogan in Western Samar and live on Facebook at the Melanio Lazo Mauricio, Jr. (facebook.com/attybatas) and Star Radio Catbalogan (facebook.com/starradio901) pages. To call or send messages, contact 0977-805-9058./WDJ