Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings
 
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.

Count your blessings,
name them one by one, Count your blessings,
see what God hath done! Count your blessings,
name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath 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.
Wealth can never buy your reward in heaven,
nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

I remember singing this hymn in church growing up and I still love it. So again this week I sat down to write my blessings and was just overwhelmed by all the ways that God cares about me. Me! Thank you, Lord! (#51-90 of the Thousand, Endless Gifts)

*patches of warm sunlight on the lawn
*a cool (but not cold) breeze
*putting on flip-flops
*emerging from outside basement stairs to see a brilliant pink, orange, and blue sunrise
*baby thighs
*hugs and kisses to send me off to work
*more homeschool curriculum, actually putting my hands on some of the options
*a song just for me when I get in the car
*God's provision in friends
*turning hurtful words over to God
*prayer
*finding the perfect gift, using a gift certificate
*tiptoes
*brother praying for his sister
*singing hymns, family worship
*starting a rock garden
*family walks, full moon, stars
*a new baby, joyful mom, blessing her, Olivia's card, milk for the baby, a meal for the parents
*big-boy bed
*my nieces and nephews
*early bedtimes
*having my back tickled
*praising God and not using "I" or "me" at all, keeping God in perspective
*seeing God's infinite patience with me
*playing Wii bowling with JR and the kids
*cleaning up the old, dead leaves out of the yard (left over from the fall)
*the "You are Special" plate
*sharing mocha cake
*bringing him home coffee
*chance conversation
*receiving compliments for my kids
*"cracker man"
*being comfortable with those who "aren't like us", warm breakfast at the park
*playing together quietly
*science with daddy
*underneath some trees, like a perfect little room
*my possessions in perspective
*coming home to Olivia "setting the breakfast table" by her own initiative (she was the only one awake in the house)