Blessings Each and Every Day

"We need deliberately to call to mind the joys of our journey. Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin; we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world."   George A. Buttric

Week 21

Well the week has finally arrived, and the countdown until Christmas has begun.  But, in the midst of all the anticipation there is this back drop of so many problems out there in our world; it just feels like there is a lot of turmoil in lives today, despite the excitement of the season.  But even, and perhaps because of these uncertain times, we must dare not forget to pause and give thanks for our many blessings. 

I must sadly admit that I don’t spend near enough time thinking about and giving thanks for the blessings I receive.  Oh, I occasionally stop and give pause for all the wonderful gifts that have been bestowed on me and no doubt if I did begin to make a list of the joys in my life, I would find the paper overflowing.  I would like to improve in that area of my life.  The truth is that the more I think about my blessings, the more blessed I feel…  Kind of like eating healthy food, the more I do it…the healthier I feel and the more of it I want to do.

I have thought about keeping a blessing’s journal.  I even attempted it a time or two and then found myself forgetting or making excuses.  Sometimes it was just a disappointing day and I didn’t feel the motivation or the joy within me to pick up the pen.   But Joseph Addison, British essayists in the 1700’s, reminds us... “Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.”

Have you ever noticed that there are some things in this world that seem like if we do them, they can only bring good results, and there is just not a down side to it.  I think giving thought to and writing down the blessings that I receive might just be one of those things.  And like other areas in my life, if I want to see real change, I must begin it by making it a habit in my ordinary day.

Although we can’t know what the Lord has in store for us in the coming year, let's pay heed to George Buttrick’s words and ‘deliberately call to mind the joys of our journey’.

May you have a blessed Christmas!

Small step: At least four times a week, make note of at least 4 blessings I am thankful for.