Counting my Blessings

You know what? Life is good. Even if it's just for this one minute, it's good. I spend so much time complaining that today I want to just tell you the good things. I want to proclaim them for everyone to know!

You've heard it said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder...well, I think good and bad are in the attitude of the proclaimer. The last time I posted, my feelings were raw, I was afraid, I felt bad, and I was losing hope. I wrote a transparent post that revealed all of that to the reader... I didn't leave you guessing about how I felt!

Today...well, today is a whole new day. It's a GOOD day, and you know why? Because I feel good and I have hope again. Objectively speaking, the world looks pretty much the same as it did when I last posted, but one thing has changed:  my attitude is different. See? Good and bad are in the attitude of the proclaimer!

The good things in my life today won't mean much to most of my readers, and that's okay. In a few minutes, I'm going to name them anyway. Maybe it will encourage you to make your own list of good things. But before I give you my list, I want to tell you about a childhood memory.

We always went to church when i was growing up, and all the songs we sang are indelibly imprinted in my mind even today. I remember one old hymn we must have sung a lot. It was called "Count Your Blessings," written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1897. Even though it's an old song, the principles are sound, the theology is right, and the application is still current. Here are the words:

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
   When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
   Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
   And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
2. Refrain:
   • Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     Count your blessings, see what God has done!
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
3. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
   Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
   Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
   And you will keep singing as the days go by.
4. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
   Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
   Count your many blessings—money cannot buy
   Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
5. 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.

So.... here are some of my specific personal blessings in this good day, recounted in no particular order. I'd like to name them publicly now, and be grateful for them:

My parents just adopted an adult woman my age! I have a sister now!

It's Independence Day. Our country is still a good place to live -- we are all rich in comparison with most other countries. And, depending, upon which index you reference, the US is still ranked as the 20th freest country in the world.

My new PD medication is agreeing with me, and after only 3 days, I might be starting to notice a difference! I'm actually a little concerned that I might have TOO much energy -- sleep is not even close, and it's after 11:00. That's okay -- I have hope now, and that makes all the difference.

When I went out to eat with my family for lunch today, I found that Ruby Tuesday's actually has a gluten-free bun! I had the first hamburger sandwich WITH bun that I've eaten out in literally years!

My brother and my nephew are staying over with us tonight so they can catch an early train out for their next job in Denver tomorrow morning. I got to fix snacks for the road for them and provide them a free, clean place to sleep tonight.

My parents and my new sister came to visit today. It seems my parents recently "found" some forgotten money, and they decided to share with us!  They got us a new printer, filled up our gas tank, and took me shopping today! We had such a sweet visit!

Our house is fairly clean and picked up, so we were able to welcome last-minute company without anxiety.

We actually got our printer hooked up and working without having to call support for help! This is BIG for non-techy people like us!

I have a good job that has the potential for significant earnings, and it really is going pretty well. I'm looking forward to going in tomorrow after the long weekend. Well, okay, that might be slightly overstated...I'm not dreading it, at least!

Our garden is beautiful, and it's bearing cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini. There are pretty green tomatoes on the vines just biding their time, waiting to ripen. Our garden makes me smile all the way down in my heart.

Lastly, I've had the privilege of calling the sweetest, kindest man in the world my husband for 25 years now!

I am blessed. The blessings didn't come because I felt good today. They were there all along, I just couldn't find them. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.

Go out today and be blessed. Count your blessings with me!