I love the word blessings. I like how it sounds as it rolls off my tongue. I like the pictures it bring to my mind when I think of all the good fortune in my life. And I love the hymn Count Your Blessings. The chorus reads, “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.” Whenever I’m melancholy or have a moment of sadness I think of this hymn and begin listing my blessings and I quickly realize how blessed I am by God’s grace.

When we “count our blessings” we’re grateful for all the wonderful gifts in our lives. Even when we face difficulties if we acknowledge God’s goodness we learn to appreciate the countless gifts that bless our lives. We don’t count our blessings to ignore the hardships we’re facing but to take those worries to God to help us focus on the joy we have in our lives. The lyrics to Count Your Blessings advise us to count our good fortune, when we’re burdened with life’s challenges, to be reminded of the grace and gifts we’ve received from the Lord.

“When I started counting my blessings my whole life turned around,” Willie Nelson.

Spiritual teachings emphasize gratitude. 1 Thessalonians states, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We can lay our burdens on God’s shoulders and he will give us peace. When we pray with a thankful heart it brings us peace, calms our anxiety, and deepens our connection with God. We read in Philippians 4:6-7, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Catherine Pulsifer said, “May God bless your life with endless reasons to be happy.” What beautiful words and what a glorious blessing. Gratitude is how we count our blessings. “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul,” Henry Ward Beecher. Reading scripture tonight and found this scripture from Numbers 6:24-26, a biblical blessing which reads, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

As the old hymn says, “So amid the conflict, whether great or small, do not be discouraged, God is over all; count your many blessings, angels will attend, help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.” Psalm 66 speaks of counting blessings, “Come and see what gods has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.”

I’ll close with my favorite blessing y’all have read many times in my writings. I wish these words for my family and friends and my faithful readers. An Apache Blessing — “May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.”

“Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles.” — Maltbie D. Babcock