Counting Your Blessings

When I was a child, there was more talk about counting your blessings. It seems every time a bunch of adults were around I heard one of them say, "well, you can count your blessings...." Even in school ( I attended a Christian school all 12 years) there was constantly talk about counting our blessings for this or that, the country we lived in, the freedom we had, that we all had food to eat and a warm bed at night. We would have prayer each morning in school, in small groups, down on our knees, and yes, holding hands, even with the boys, oh how yucky that was, they all smelled of dirt and erasers. But anyway, someone always thanked God for "all our blessings". I suspect we really weren't too sure about what all those blessings were. Most children just expect to be well cared for in this country and take it for granted.
We heard missionary stories and stories of floods and storms but it was hard to relate to as a child that had never know such things.
I wonder if we are loosing out on something now a days by not talking more about our blessings.
We do say what we are grateful for but being Grateful seems to leave out the fact that the good things in our life are supernatural gifts, gifts from God. Blessings is a more religious term I think.Even the breath that enters your body each new day is a blessing. That you can see to read this blog is a blessing. To have a computer, to have lights in your home is a blessing. So many things we take for granted.
Friendship is a blessing, be it cyber friendship or otherwise. I feel so blessed to have so many friends in the world, so many kind and wonderful people around me and in contact with me.
I think today I would like to count my blessings, as many as I can think of right off the top of my head.
Makes me think of that little song...

counting a few of my blessings...
Life
Love of God
Emery's love for me
Melissa
Melanie
Steven
James
Casi
Priscilla
Babies
Extended Family
Friends, both old and new
That small still voice
Truthful people in my life
Forgiveness from God
Good Health
Eyesight
Hearing
Clean water
A warm home
Natures beauty
Good food
My woodstove
Books
Music
Roses
Garden goodness
Herbs for healing
Enough money to live on
My computer
My camera
Being able to hike
Telephones
Email
Blogging : )
and so many more.

reminds me of a song I sang in my youth

Count Your Blessings
by 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 hath done.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
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.
Refrain

the photo is of sunrise yesterday morning, a blessing to see !