November 2020
Counting Your Blessings
The chorus of the hymn "Count Your Blessings" goes like this:
Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your blessings; See what God hath done.
Count your blessings; Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.
In crisis, while you are living through hard times, counting your blessings can let you choose to live a life of gratitude. It is not enough just to count the blessings; name your blessings and it will surprise you what the Lord has done for you.
LOOK AND BE THANKFUL
Look around you, literally look at everything you have and own. See what you have. Thank God for what you have. If you are looking for what you don't have, you will never be thankful and grateful.
LISTEN AND BE THANKFUL
Listen. Slow down and listen. Can you hear your spouse, children, the music and the world around you? Thank God that you can hear. Be thankful for the sound of food, family, friends and faith. You can add the sound of football if you may.
FEEL AND BE THANKFUL
Feel your heartbeat, your breathing, feel the life within you. Feel the moment you have and be thankful. Feel the compassion and the interaction between loved ones, friends and strangers. As long as you have breath in you, be thankful. Yes, just breathe and be thankful.
SMELL AND BE THANKFUL
Smell. Do you smell the aroma, the wonderful flavor of food? The sizzling bird or meat in the oven, the aroma of fresh baked bread, the flavor of spices and spicy peppers. Let all these aromas and flavors provoke grateful memories. Thank God that you can smell.
TASTE AND BE THANKFUL
Taste. When you taste the goodness of food and the goodness of God, you will be grateful. Counting your blessings is not enough; when you taste the blessings, you will be thankful. Life can be sour and salty, but when you enjoy the taste of your blessings, it is sweet. The taste of gratitude is sweet.
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18).