Counting Blessings

Tonight I was going to write a post lamenting the trials and tribulations of being an adult. The ones that make you want to take Peter Pan's stance and sing, "I won't grow up." Because when I was a kid I didn't have to deal with the heavy-duty stuff that I do now. Like paying bills. Like doing yardwork. Like having a rock fly up and hit my windshield on my home today, leaving my windshield with a nice crack in the middle of it that is yet another unexpected expense.

I was going to write about the burdens of having to make tough decisions in virtually every area of my life, from finances to career to health to relationships. But when I sat down to write, a certain song popped into my head:

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 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,
     Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
     
2. 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.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
   Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
   Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
   Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
4. 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.
5. ("Count Your Blessings", Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897)

And so, instead of focusing on the things that I consider to be burdensome about life right now, I'm going to focus on the blessings. It's certainly appropriate with Thanksgiving coming up in a few days, but I want it to be more than just a Thanksgiving-week focus. I want it to become such a habit that whenever I start to complain about something (whether aloud or just to God), I want to automatically shift my focus to things to be thankful for.

Something I've done at times over the years is to try to write in my journal each night a brief list of blessings from the day. Sometimes they're big blessings, like an answered prayer or an unexpected bonus; other times, they're small but still significant. It's been a while since I've done that so I think it's time to start keeping that list again. It will not only help me focus on my blessings but will also be a great way to remind me of ways that God blesses me that I tend to forget about.

Anyone else have any tips or tricks for having a thankful heart and not focusing so much on worries?

Recipe for a Good Saturday

Start with NO ALARM.

(Wouldn't you know it that on the day that I can FINALLY sleep in late, I wake up on my own before the sun's up? At least I can lounge in my pajamas as long as I want.)

Add some heavy-duty holiday shopping to try to whittle my shopping list down significantly before the stores get crazy-busy.

If I've been a good girl, perhaps a quick stop here while I'm out:

Since there's no

today, I may have to settle for

instead.

Finally, settle in for the evening with a movie and a big stack of

and I'll be one happy camper.

Now you tell me--what's a good Saturday in your book?

Book Review: Then Sings My Soul

My most recent book review for Booksneeze is that of Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan. The book is a compilation of 150 Christian hymns and the stories behind them.

The book includes the music and lyrics for each hymn, along with a brief synopsis of the lyricist and/or composer. Hymns range from Christmas and Easter selections to "everyday" hymns.

I sang in chorus and both junior high and high school and have a great love of music, as well as history, so this book was a great read for me. Considering that many churches today (mine included) sing more contemporary praise and worship music and not as many hymns, I enjoyed being reminded of several old hymns that I haven't sung in years.

I've been reading a few stories at night before bed; they're only one page each and quick to read through. If you particularly enjoy history, I think you'll find this book to be an enjoyable and enlightening read.

I'm Still Here...In Case You Were Wondering

The last few weeks have been exhausting as they've led up to my company's annual convention, which took place this past weekend. The convention was a great success, but I'm feeling the effects of too much and not enough:

Too much food.

Not enough exercise.

Too much overtime.

Not enough downtime.

Too many late nights.

Not enough sleep.

Just because I'm home and the convention's over it doesn't mean the workload has lightened. I came home on Sunday afternoon and hit the ground running Monday morning and haven't slowed down much since.

My body and mind are plum wore out, and I'm counting the hours til the weekend. This will be the first Saturday in quite a while that I don't have anything planned and don't have to be anywhere at a particular time. I am so looking forward to sleeping in, having a leisurely day and getting some much needed rest to recharge my batteries.

In the meantime, I'm clinging to verses like this one that reminds me that even when I'm suffering from too much and not enough, God will give me just what I need:

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)

Here's to slower, calmer days ahead, and strength and rest for all of us weary folk.

What to Do Next?

The other night as I was driving home I saw a homeless man standing at the top of the exit ramp that I was on. He didn't appear to be asking for handouts; he was waiting for traffic to clear out so that he could cross the street. He carried a clear garbage bag that had what looked like clothes in it.

I was ashamed to realize that my first instinct was to look away and hope for the cars in front of me to hurry up and turn so that I could drive away from him. I started thinking about how this was someone's son, perhaps someone's father, or brother. I wished that I had some food to give him. I thought for a minute about giving him some money but by then he had moved further away and it was time for me to turn anyway.

I haven't forgotten him, though.

Tonight I watched a news report about the latest threat to Haiti, a storm that threatens to flood this little nation that's already been devastated by an earthquake and that is dealing with a cholera outbreak. Hundreds of thousands of people have already died, and many more remain homeless.

As I drove home in the rain I thought about how I had a warm, dry, well-running car to keep me out of the rain. I have a house with a solid roof and walls without holes in them to keep me safe and comfortable. I can afford heat. I have a comfortable bed to crawl into tonight, and more clothes than I can possibly need. I thought about how unfair it is that I live this way, and the people of Haiti (and many other countries) do not have the comforts that I have.

I find myself haunted by faces of the suffering, and unsure of what to do about it. Giving money is certainly an option. But I'm wondering if I'm meant to do something more. More and more lately, I feel an urge to do more than just make charitable donations (although giving financially is still needed). I think God wants me to give more of my time, more of my self. I'm just not sure what that means. He's giving me a lot to think and pray about.

The lyrics to the song "Whatever You're Doing" popped into my head tonight. I think the chorus is especially fitting for these thoughts I'm having:

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly ("Whatever You're Doing", Sanctus Real)