Count Your Blessings One by One
A relative of mine who is going through very hard times reminded me of the song we all sang together in Sunday school when we were kids: Count Your Blessings. She leans on this song to help her get through tough times and to bring calmness and peace into her life.
If you listen to it on YouTube or read the lyrics, it’s a perfect song for Thanksgiving — the gist being grateful for so many blessings that we forget about.
And it is so easy to forget. Covid is ruthlessly scavenging around the globe and bringing chaos in its wake. Add to that hurricanes, wildfires, financial woes, and other catastrophes and it’s understandably, hard for many to get into the holiday spirit.
It’s the small everyday blessings that are often overlooked – yet they are just as important as those large “in your face” blessings that are easily recognizable. But add up all these countless small blessings and you’ll be amazed as to how many good things you have been blessed with in the past, in the present and in the future.
While this year I will truly miss gathering with friends and family for Thanksgiving and Christmas due to Covid, I realize that I am still unequivocally blessed. While there won’t be the usual joy and laughter on those holidays, I will still cook a nice turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I can fix dinner in my pajamas and even sit down to enjoy it in my pajamas – and I WILL!
But it won’t be eerily quiet. Throughout the day I’ll be anxiously working on a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle in front of the rec room TV, tuned into some of my favorite classic movies. Pieces of pumpkin pie and snacks will flow freely before AND after dinner. To have the safety of my home and plenty of food are blessings for which I am forever grateful. I am blessed with nature as I look out at the beautiful trees gracing my backyard. I am blessed to have so many good people in my life even though I’m not able to see them for a while.
For friends and family who are battling through Covid and other horrible situations, I am grateful that God is seeing them through it all. There is light at the end of their tunnels.
Right now, many of us cannot visit in person, touch or hug many of our friends or family. But think about how devastating it would be without a phone or computer (Skype/Zoom)….yes, our phones and computers are blessings, undoubtedly overlooked. Are you healthy? Then count that as a very huge blessing.
If you’re feeling down, take a moment to count your own blessings. Remember the lyrics to the song below or watch it on YouTube:
Count Your Blessings, author Johnson Oatman (a hymn from the late 1800’s):
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 hath done
Each and every one of us has their own special blessings from God. With the holidays upon us, it is especially important to take a step back and instead of focusing on all the bad things that may have befallen us, focus on our blessings. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Note: There is also another old-time song also called Count Your Blessings by Irving Berlin and was used in the 1954 movie, White Christmas (even though there is no reference to Christmas), this is not the same song as Johnson Oatman’s version.