While all three are precious, I want to dwell more on life and health.
As a student nurse, I was posted to the Accident and Emergency Unit at Jos University Teaching Hospital. It was a beautiful yet sobering experience. I witnessed many intense moments that made me deeply appreciate the gift of life and divine health.
In this unit, people are rushed in daily, their lives hanging by a thread, relying on the swift intervention of health professionals and the mercies of God. I saw patient relatives weeping, praying, and doing everything they could to ensure their loved ones didn’t slip away in death's cold hands
Sadly, some patients made it. While Some didn’t.
I watched as life slipped out of someone in the blink of an eye, despite best efforts and interventions to save them. Some of these cases were Road Traffic Accidents—victims brought in bruised, broken, and sometimes already gone. While some were life threatening diseases. These moments made me realize afresh that God is truly the keeper of life and the giver of divine health.
So, perhaps today you’re boasting about your strength, your achievements, or your family. Let me gently remind you: death comes unannounced. It shows no favoritism. The strength you glory in today could vanish tomorrow, leaving you helpless in a hospital bed or worse or even dead.
What am I driving at?
I’ve learned to thank God first for life and for divine health. When we give thanks to the Giver of life, we position ourselves to receive even more of His mercy, favor, and grace. To anyone who believes they’re alive by their own power, please remember: there’s a God in heaven who sustains you. The breath in your lungs is not your doing—it’s a gift He can withdraw at any time. In a nutshell, there are countless things to be thankful for this year. But for me, I choose to first give thanks for life and health—because without these, there would be no opportunity to be thankful for anything else.
As my scripture teaches: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy and love endure forever.”