Counting Blessings

Proverbs 28:20a: "A faithful man shall abound with blessings."

My little grandson counts his chickens. "One, two. three, six... thirteen..." Just like him. I count my blessings.  I skip around , talk about the good ones, or choose one to testify about now and then.  And I don't even think about the ones between six and thirteen.

Why?  The little one obviously is still learning to count. But me? I don't always see all of God' s giving as a blessing.

I woke this morning thinking about how stiff and sore I was. It took me awhile to refocus on how much better I am than 6 weeks ago when I took a nasty fall off a ladder. Right then I turned adversity into a blessing.

I often look at my 63 year old self in the mirror and wander how I got here so soon?  But quickly I turn grateful that I am alive to enjoy life, as different as it is from 30 years ago!

I am not happy to be living hundreds of miles from the majority of my children and grandchildren. But I am grateful to have modern technology where I can access pictures, videos, talking and texting.

Counting my blessings causes me to concentrate on what I have, not what I don't have. It is so much easier to grumble than rejoice. Remembering takes more focus than forgetting. Identifying blessings is much harder than just skipping to thirteen from six when I start to count.

And I often look for the blessings recorded in CAPITAL letters: accomplishments, recognition, healings, or honor. But most blessings are disguised to just look like "happenings".What about a sunset on the porch, the fresh smell of newly laundered clothes, the surprise visit of a friend or neighbor? Am I blessed to be one of the faithful few to share prayer meeting tonight? 

This week I've been challenged to not feel overwhelmed at the mounds of dry leaves scattered in the yard. I much prefer them on branches in all their color! But there is some joy in watching God metamorphose nature and the assurance He knows what He is doing. He will bring life again.

I'm not much into cold weather but I love to watch a fire burning.  I am gladly exchanging summer sandwiches for delicious, hot, winter soups. I refuse to dread the long winter when I can experience the beauty of snow. I anticipate the coziness of a cold evening snuggled into a chair beside the fireplace.

So many blessings.....today I've been singing in my heart.

"Count your many blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

I'm counting... trying to name them...trying not to miss a one...