Count Your Blessings

One of my favorite hymns we sing (yes, my church still sings hymns from a hymnal) is "Count Your Blessings". The chorus tells us to "Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God hath done." Have you ever done that? Have you ever just sat and thought about all the blessings in your life, from the large to the small? If you have thought about it, have you given thanks for them?

My greatest blessings

Each night when I settle down and talk to God, I have always thanked Him for the blessings in my life. I don't consider myself lucky, but I do believe I have been blessed. I've never understood how God could consider me worthy of such blessings. You may wonder how I can still consider myself blessed after what I have gone through the last five months. In the midst of tragedy and sadness there have been great blessings.

It has amazed me to consider everything that has happened in my life and how it has played out. The path could have gone differently at several turns. The way I met Maddy has always been one of my greatest blessings. My girls, of course, are right up there too. Complications during pregnancy and birth make me appreciate the miracle even more. All of us have been fairly heathy throughout our lives and have hardly had to see a doctor. We caught Maddy's cancer early and were able to attack it with surgery and radiation only. It never returned. He was burned while fighting a wildfire, but healed with no lasting damage. Back surgery was successful. Another burn, this time at work, healed with no lasting effects. I consider each of these to be great blessings. There were also times when finances were tight, but God provided. I have had a few times when my employment was up in the air. Again, God took care of us. He has seen us safely on our travels, even when we had blowouts or couldn't find a place to stay. He has given me good times and help in not so good times.

If God has provided so many blessings for me throughout the years, why would I turn my back on Him when trouble comes? Should I only have faith in fair weather? When life begins to feel like a sinking ship, that is not the time to jump or let the turbulent waters pull you down. That's the moment you head to the lifeboat so you can stay afloat. Jesus is the best lifeboat there is. Not only can He keep you above water, He can walk on it! Given the choice of sinking in despair or rising above the tempest, I choose life. I don't ask why, I ask Him for strength on a daily basis. I don't turn my back on Him, I reach up for Him to pull me out of the pit.

Since Maddy's accident I have seen God's hand helping me through. The help and support from friends and family has been a huge blessing. Maddy left me financially good. The girls and I are working together to get through this. I have had the opportunity to help others. Don't get me wrong, I have down days often. I have grief over unfulfilled dreams and plans. But, I have to trust that God will show me that He has another plan for me. I just have to be still and trust Him.

I encourage you to count your many blessings. Write them down in a journal. Post them on your refrigerator or on the bathroom mirror. Write them on individual slips and put them in a jar to pull out each day. Even on your darkest day, you can read through your blessings and remind yourself that the moment may be hard but God is good.

"I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26