counting my blessings
Do you count your blessings? Do you focus on the positive or the negative? Do you focus on the things that go wrong in an hour or a day or do you focus on all that went right? Do you focus on how hard something was to accomplish or do you focus on how easy something was accomplished? It may not have been easy, but it was accomplished! I think we all, at times, tend to focus on the negative, the bad and the hard part of our day or week, even our year. Why? Well because it was hard, or something bad happened to us. I know I have been guilty of that.
There is a saying that I love, and it says…What if I woke up tomorrow with only the things I thanked God for today? When I first read it several years ago it really struck me. I thought about if for a minute and realized that I was not spending time thanking Him for all He has done for me and all He has given me. I made it a point to really try and do that daily. No, I don’t always do it, but I definitely do it more now than I did before.
Counting My Blessings by Seph Schlueter is a great song. The chorus goes like this:
One, two, three
Up to infinity
I'd run out of numbers
Before I could thank You for everything
God, I'm still counting my blessings
All that You've done in my life
The more that I look in the details
The more of Your goodness I find
Father on this side of Heaven
I know that I'll run out of time
But I will keep counting my blessings
Knowing I can't count that high
I thought I would list some of my blessings. I would have to write until Jesus takes me home to list all my blessings for the last 57 years. One could say they are as many as the stars in the sky and we know they can’t be counted. Since I won’t do that, this list is some of my best blessings.
My daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren. My parents and my bonus parents, (Mark’s parents) and the wonderful marriage they have lived and the legacy they are leaving us and our children and grandchildren. My siblings, their spouses and their families including Mark’s siblings because they are, after all, mine too. Family vacations with the girls. Family vacations with my parents, Mark, my brothers and their wives. We took over 10 with the 8 of us before Mark passed and they are some of my fondest memories and blessings. Friends from our first church in Irving, TX that have remained friends. My best friend (my ride or die), her husband and family who have been through an amazing journey themselves and still keep the joy. Precious California friends who have stayed dear to me for the last 20 plus years and some who have moved on from CA but have stayed faithful. New friends from Texas who have become some of my dearest friends. Precious friends in Canada who mean the world to me and even have a daughter who has our name. That is one of the best things ever; to know we had that kind of impact on a family! Couples who Mark and I coached on their marriage and even though we don’t see each other enough, we stay in touch, and they pray for me and look after me (shout out to my Henderson, NV crew). My daughter’s in-laws and their families. Our 17 years in California and our Immanuel church who loved us for 15 years and made us family. My forever pastor in CA and his wife who loved Mark and me and who stay in contact with me even 9 years later. Six years in Texas working with my parents and doing ministry with them. One of Mark’s biggest blessings and one of mine. I think that will forever be a top blessing for me because Mark always wanted to live at the ranch and do ministry with my parents. He lived his last years there and it couldn’t have been a better place to be in the end. Time to travel the last several years even though those first road trips with Mark were quite interesting. A new place to live for Meg and me and a beautiful new home. An amazing new church and wonderful new friends. A group of widows that have become my dearest friends because of the journey we are on together. The Lord knew I needed these ladies! A new ministry that I believe the Lord has given me to encourage other widows along our journey. Time to travel and see my Colorado family. The last 2 years living by my youngest daughter and family. Seeing three of my grandchildren almost daily. My grandson, Ethan, his mama, little brother and their family. For the relationship we have with our bonus family. For a safe neighborhood and good neighbors. For a car that gets me places I need to go. For being able to travel with my mama and have wonderful trips to remember. For being able to do things around my house and do them right. For worship music and hymns that minister to me. For preachers that preach the Word unapologetically. For my health even though I need to put in a little work on it. I am still able to do so much, and I don’t want to take that for granted. For a marriage that was not perfect but was perfect for me. There are so many more and yes, they are countless. Like the end of the chorus says…I’ll keep counting my blessings knowing I can’t count that high! Two of my biggest and best blessings that are together in Heaven…Mark and Ella Kate.
See what I mean? I had to stop because my list is exhaustive. What are your blessings? Take some time to write them down. Make sure when your head hits the pillow tonight you take a moment to thank the Lord for what He has given you today and what He has done for you. I will make it a priority to do the same.
Confident in His love,
Isaiah 54:10
