Count Your Many Blessings

I want to be known as a thankful person. I love that old song "Count Your Many Blessings" because it reminds me that life doesn't have to be perfect in order for me to feel blessed. So I'd like to share here a quick, incomplete list of things I'm thankful for:

• Chocolate: It needs no further explanation.
• Family: I really like my kids. I like to be with them and I like how they think. I'm proud of the people they've become.
• Grandchildren: It's amazing how bright they are! Their antics and sayings lighten my heart and make me laugh.
• Marriage: For John and me, the benefits greatly outweigh the challenges.
• My modest home: I'm thankful it's not bigger when I go to clean it!
• Books: I think I'd rather read than eat ... and I do love to eat.
• My church: This past year we gradually transferred from the founding senior pastor to a 27-year-old senior pastor. I've never seen such a thoughtful and gentle transfer—amazing.
• Telephones: What a blessing to be able to keep in touch with Amy and Justin who live out of state.
• Gardening: There's something about getting my hands in the dirt that builds up my soul.
• Homeschoolers: Moms who invest in their children to raise up the next generation—my hat is off to you!
• Good coffee: I almost always carry a mug full of coffee. My friends and family say they can always find me by following my trail of misplaced mugs.
• Health: Many family members and fellow Sonlighters world-wide deal with complex health issues. I am grateful for health.
• Garage sales: What can I say? I love heading out to the sales on Friday mornings with my daughter and daughter-in-law. It's such a privilege to spend this fun time with them each week.
• Friends: I love the simple pleasure of laughing and being together.
• My job: I love what I do!
• Quiet time: The Lord wakes me up each morning (without an alarm clock) to spend time with him. This is a truly precious time.
• The Mission India project: Since one of my passions is to raise up children with a heart for the world. I'm grateful for the chance to learn about a needy part of God's world, to be able to pray, and to link arms with other Sonlighters and make a huge difference financially! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here.)

As I think of these blessings, I'm drawn toward Psalm 103, a Psalm of David:

"Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
... The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love."
(Click here to read the whole Psalm)

God truly is good and gives us far more than we deserve. If you haven't yet, may my inadequate list galvanize you to reflect about what you're thankful for. I'd love to hear from you.

And I do pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

Blessings,
Sarita