March 18, 2009
Humming
I've been
humming an old song to myself today. The song? Count Your Blessings by Johnson
Oatman Jr.
The chorus goes
like this...
“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.”
Here in North
America and much of the developed world we take things like electricity, running
water and personal vehicles and family for granted. At least until we don't have
them and then we usually recognize what a blessing it was.
Indoor toilets
... another luxurious blessing from God that we take for granted. Forced air
furnaces. A roof over our heads. I could go on and on with all the blessings
that we've come to think of as rights that really are luxuries. Forgive me Lord
for taking them for granted.
We often wonder
where God's blessings are, yet we're surrounded by them. Every time we have
food, shelter from the rain or a good night's sleep that's a gift from God.
Every kind word we hear or friend we meet is a blessing. I'm a rich man indeed,
even when cash is tight and things seem hard.
If you're
reading this you're better off than most of the world. It likely means you have
internet access. If someone has printed it out for you, it means someone cares
enough about you to take the time to do so. If you're reading this you can thank
God for the ability to read. If someone is reading it to you, you can thank God
for ears that can hear.
The Bible calls
us repeatedly to be grateful for what God has provided.
Colossians
3:15-17 NIV
Let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him.
The old song
calls us to count our blessings and name them one by one. Give it a try. You're
probably more blessed than you ever thought.
Give thanks to
God for those blessing and for the very life and breath you have to count!
Darrel Mason