Counting My Blessings

Today is kinda a tough day...the kind of day that just sort of sucks the life out of you. Worry, uncertainty, questions of why and maybe a little bit of sadness because seeing a child, so innocent and pure have to deal with so much just frankly STINKS. I know all about how things do happen, we live in an imperfect world etc etc, but you know, knowing that never makes it easier to accept when a child has to endure pain. It makes me wonder about the concept of Karma, there can't be any comfort in that concept for something like this.

Its easy for me to get into the mindset at such times to do some bargaining with God, you know, the " if you will just take care of Mei-Ling God, then I will be good for ever and ever" sort of conversation. I have had plenty of those in my 54 years of life, well actually only a few but those kinds of conversations come about in the worst of times and just a couple of those can seem like plenty of them. I suspect God looks on these conversations just the same way as Emery and I looked on as our children pleaded and begged for something when they were small children, promising to keep their room clean for the rest of their lives type of thing. They were always viewed with a tender smile. Not a laugh or any mocking from us, we understood.

So right now, instead of staying where I am mood wise, I am going to count my blessings, one by one. For there is always so much to be grateful for, if we take the time to look.

For hope and faith that there is something greater than ourselves to help us deal with the impossible.

For love, oh what would life be without love

For holding hands and hugs

For children and grandchildren

For sisters

For the beauty of nature that inspires, lifts us up and makes us see beyond ourselves

For cool weather

For tiny arms that reach up to me

For crisp fall apples

For the smell of fresh hay in the barn

For wool socks and flannel shirts

For freedom to choose and the privilege of voting

For our comfortable home and being able to live out our dreams

For being aware that there is always more to learn

For a deep sense of joy, not the jump up and down kind, but the inner peace kind of joy.

For coffee and croissants

For the sound of laughter

For the prayers and good thoughts of others

For music

For compassion

and so much more