18…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
It is election season in Malawi, and campaigning is in high intensity, with candidates contesting for the three levels of our governing structures (presidency, parliament and councilors). Scheduling of rallies from north to south, east to western centers of the country are speedily racing to the finish line. We pray the best men and women are selected to these positions. Twenty-two million Malawians are depending on their leaders to help them wade through the miry clay we find ourselves in the year 2025.
The call to prayer also comes with a call for Malawians to stop and to be grateful that in its 61 years of independent rule, the country has never had a war either within or from an outside attack. For this we are truly grateful for attackers from within and even from outside the country, have been there, but we have been preserved. For this, Malawians must truly be grateful, thankful because wars are devastating, property- and life-ending things that withhold development and advancement and peace.
This month I am grateful for the issuing of my new publication called 365 Day of Gratitude, One Day at a Time.
Many of you may recall that last year on September 11, 2025, I was involved in a work-related injury when a student in his three times a daily fury outburst, threw a chair to my head. I was caused to miss work as I was in and out of the Emergency Room, doctor’s offices and even a one-night hospital stay – this was for a period of two months of unpaid existence. In my prayers to God, I was reminded of giving thanks to Him in all circumstances.
During this time of prayer that sometimes ended up in crying out loud and shouting “who hits a teacher?” or “will I still be alive tomorrow morning??” I was divinely inspired to create my next book publishing project: 365 Days of Gratitude,a journal of giving thanks for small and big things. Despite my injury, despite being out of work, despite my almost daily hospital visits over two months and incessant headaches that persist, I AM TRULY GRATEFUL TO OUR GREAT GOD! I am still here to tell my story.
This life-changing project of the creation of a journal where the owner of the journal (you) writes down your gratitude on a daily basis. Repeat for the second and third year. Trust me, after three years, you will be blessed as you see at a glance, how God has lifted you up from a myriad of miry clays, because of the praises you give Him through your gratitude.
As the book title suggests, 365 Days of Gratitude, One Day at a Time, is a 3-year journey of being thankful and grateful. At a glance. The journal pays homage to the divine call found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that states “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” From January 1 to December 31, you will write down, preferably at the end of the day, what you are grateful for. From the big things to the very small things. Be sure to write something that has happened (sometimes will happen) for which you are grateful.
You may be surprised that as you journey on this gratitude trip, there are a lot of things for which you are thankful, and that the more you are thankful, the greater things take place or burst out forth in your life and the lives of those you love. As you grow in this great journey of being grateful, showing gratitude, you will be uplifted.
In the introduction to the journal, I draw out a moment from my past: “As a child, I learned a great deal about being grateful, thankful when my parents gave my siblings and I gifts. Growing up in three foreign countries before the age of 20 years, as children in the diplomatic community, my parents made sure my brothers, sisters, and me, fitted in where we lived; and the parents showered us with numerous gifts according to our expressed and sometimes unexpressed wishes…”
I conclude that “the lesson for gratitude and thankfulness is an important aspect of our faith. The more grateful and thankful we are, the more uplifted we feel. As we lift up our gratitude and thankfulness, we too are lifted up in the most divine manner possible and we are blessed. Truly blessed.”
As we move forward toward the elections, may we do so with gratitude, giving thanks for peace to be showered over our land.
We thank You, God for blessing our land of Malawi.