This morning, as I was enjoying my morning tea, I looked around and was overcome by the strong emotion of gratitude. My life has been far from easy. I sacrificed time with my children in order to work to support them and I know they resent me for all the things I could not provide for them. They had clothes and shoes but not designer labels. We had hamburger helper instead of steak. An outing to the movies was a treat not a weekend expectation.

Back to this morning. God has provided for my family regardless of the bad choices I have made. He always allowed me to have a dry place to live, plenty of food for the table and clothes for our bodies. Did I show adequate gratitude to Him? Did I give Him all the glory?

Well, this morning, I looked around, fell to my knees and asked forgiveness. Forgiveness for not making choices in line with His teachings; for not following the path He had for me; for not serving others as much as I should have; and for many other things which kept me from being more like Jesus Christ.

Gratitude: thankfulness

Blessing: a thing conductive to happiness or welfare

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV 

Johns Oatman, Jr was a Methodist Minister who very much wanted to sing. Unfortunately, he did not have the vocal ability but did discover how he could contribute musically and preach the gospel through song. Oatman found he could write songs for others to sing and wrote 5,000 songs. Count Your Blessings is one of them. (The St. Augustine Record: staugstine.com)

Count Your Blessings

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 hath done.

Refrain

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.

Written: 1897 by Johnson Oatman, Jr. and music by Edwin O. Excell

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