Guten Tag Sweet Friends!
I’m sure you have all heard the expression, “count your blessings,” but do you remember the song? “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done…” Heard it? It’s a hymn from my childhood and we sang it at our little country Baptist church all the time. I can still remember the sound of my Grandfather’s booming voice as he led the singing at Center Hill Baptist Church in Tupelo, Mississippi. Funny the things you remember.
Anyway, when I first met my German friend Sulamith, I remarked that her broken foot is a blessing in disguise because it affords her plenty of time to study for her upcoming CAE exam. Yeah, I know; but I see things differently sometimes 🙂 When I next emailed her, I sent her a You Tube link to the song. Since then, she has learned it word for word and tells me that she sings it everyday and does indeed count her many blessings. Now most people would curse me for not being able to get that silly song out of their heads as it would probably be on a constant loop and they would be unable to sleep; but not Sulamith! She loves it and uses it as a reminder to count her many blessings, including her broken foot.
So, today I am counting my blessings; and my friends, I have MANY! I am blessed to have a son who is one of the best humans on the planet. I am blessed that his father, my ex, is still a big part of my life. I am blessed to have so many wonderful, supportive friends from Memphis to Hawaii to Germany who love and give unconditionally. I am blessed to live here and free to see parts of the world that I might never have seen were it not for one man’s gift to me. I am blessed to have a beautiful place to live, healthy food and water to sustain and nourish me, and all my senses to enjoy everything around me. Counting your blessings just puts everything else in perspective.
Speaking of perspective, Friday night, we had some friends over for a small dinner party. I cooked and we ate at the table overlooking the river. Around 10 PM a thunder storm rolled in and the lightening, thunder and huge raindrops sounded like an orchestra warming up for an evening performance! My concern was getting the windows closed so our guests would not get wet, but they insisted that the windows remain open so that they could enjoy the majesty of the storm. What a concept! I saw the storm as an annoyance but they saw it as something to enjoy albeit the highlight of the evening! We sat there as the rain pounded in and no one moved. Again, it’s all about perspective.So enjoy whatever storm you are going through today my friends, try to appreciate (if not enjoy) the damp, the cold, the thunder and lightening. Then, the sunshine will be warmer and brighter, the rainbow will be more vibrant and the many other blessings in your life will be too many to count! Remember the song…
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed.
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what your God has done.