Count Your Blessings
Every Fall I revel in the beauty of the multiple leaf colors. Year after year, I anticipate what the trees on my normal drive will look like as they magically turn from green to yellow, orange and red. As suddenly as they show off their beauty, they fall to the ground with just one windy day. The fallen leaves appear to be a reminder dropped from heaven to count His blessings. You know, like the old hymn we sang from wooden pews. “Count your blessings, name them one by one.”
Often times I don’t enjoy the fullness of the beauty, knowing that very soon it will all turn crunchy brown and need to be raked. My revel quickly turns to dread. You know the dread…rake, blow, bag, drag, dump, repeat. And before I realize it, my heart is filled with griping and complaining instead of thanksgiving and gratitude.
If not careful, I miss the blessings by focusing on what is to come. The challenges of this life can easily blind us to the goodness of God. Life moves fast and without intention it is easy to miss the little reminders that God sends my way. A simple pause ignites the counting. So for today, I pause to see the beauty and the uniqueness of the leaves. I encourage myself to bend and gather a few, just to focus on the wonder.
And as I do, I begin to count. Yes, I name the blessings of God as I look for the wonder all around me. Before I know it there is a pile of beauty awakening my heart to His goodness. My heart begins to bulge with gratitude and the hard places of life don’t seem so bad.
Let’s count together during this Thanksgiving season.
Invite Him to open your eyes to the wonder of His goodness and faithfulness.
Move beyond the normal thank you and see the surprises falling all around you. And if you want, for a moment join me on the squeaky old church pew and let’s sing it together...
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1897)
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
REFRAIN:
Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings—money cannot buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.