Count Your Blessings

 “I cried because I have no shoes . . .  Until I saw a man with no feet. Life is full of blessings. Sometimes we’re just blind to see them.”

It has been a while since my last blog. I missed keyboarding my heart out. Ah! A lot of things have happened in a matter of days, more so in almost a year of silence. I could tell that I sort of enjoy just looking around; observing how people run their so called life. Sometimes I just shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. But there are moments that I felt the rage of seeing people insensitively take this life course as if it is their own. I admit, with these everyday scenarios, I laughed . . . I cried . . . felt disappointed . . . and quietly prayed.

People nowadays are engulfed with the idea of success. For some, success is such a farfetched dream that is too difficult to achieve. Almost everyone will work their heart out just to reach that self-defined achievement that was construed in a different way by society. Success!? Let me count the ways to define you. And as the list goes on, something is lost from the horizon. That once crystal clear vision becomes turbid and we somewhat lose our focus on what is most important in life. We are blinded by our measures of accomplishments, materialism, discontent, and the farther we go, we lose our sight on how blessed we have been, in the first place.

My son is in his growing up years. Yes, I told him almost a hundred times that the blessings we receive each day is not ours to keep. It may already sound to him like a cliché (though it’s true) that we are blessed to be a blessing to other people. But more importantly, I want him to appreciate everything, count his blessings, be humble, and give thanks to God for His provision. There may be days of lack, but God is faithful to provide all that we need in life. Count your blessings instead of counting your troubles. Maltbie Babcock penned it this way, “Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose counting your troubles.”

How do we count our blessings?

1. Acknowledge that all things come from above. The blessings that you enjoy today did not come from your own efforts. These are gifts from God. Many people only attribute blessings to getting hold of material things, but this is not the case. Never forget that our strength, wisdom, knowledge, and skills have been bestowed to us by God. All things came from Him and through Him. As James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above.”
2. Write them down. Let us travel down memory lane. Recount all the things God has given you, that is, as far as material things are concerned. But let me take you in a deeper level; give an account of the times God has rescued you . . .fought for you . . . surprised you . . . and blessed you more than you prayed for. Note those moments of joy and victory. Highlight God’s success story and you’ll realize, He has never left you all alone. He was there every step of the way.
3. Appreciate the simple things in life. Take a moment to stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and view things from afar. Just like viewing a painting on the wall. You won’t be able to admire its beauty and meaning without taking a step back and see the whole picture. When you do this, you begin to notice the edges, the curves, the smudges, the strokes that defined that masterpiece. Simple things make life more profound, value them.
4. Focus on things money can’t buy. Most people attribute success to happiness; it is not so. This is the reason why people remain discontent after pursuing material things. Rather than defining happiness with these things, why not concentrate on other more valuable things that bring joy and fulfilment in your life such as love of God and family, unity in relationships, peace of mind, joy, and quality time to share with our loved ones. Invest your time with God and with your family. Those wonderful moments and fond memories we create with them bring lasting joy in our hearts that money cannot surely replace.

The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to 18, “Rejoice in the Lord always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” This verse clearly states “in everything give thanks”. In my opinion, there is no such thing as small and big blessings. The value we give on the blessings we receive everyday depends on our attitude of receiving. The air you breathe each morning may just be taken for granted until you see someone gasping for breath just to live one more minute or hour. That sandwich prepared just for you by your wife may seem unpalatable until you witness scavengers looking for food to satiate that moment of hunger. And you think you have the most gruelling job on earth? Think again . . . and again. Whatever status you are in right now, remember that there are people who is on a more difficult situation than you are. Start counting your blessings today and assuredly, it will be your passageway to a more abundant and prosperous life. Try it!