Count Your Blessings

”Always find something to be thankful for, even in the hard times.”
Is it hard to be thankful? No, it’s not. Is life hard? Yes, it is at times. But is that a reason not to be thankful? Definitely not.
Oh, just stop and look around. Count your blessings. Name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Friends, God is good. God blesses us each and every day. He is with is during the good and during the bad. And everything happens for a purpose. We may not know what that purpose is, and at times it may seem like it cannot possibly be for our benefit. But God knows everything, and He controls our lives. He makes the sun rise and set each day; He makes the moon and stars to give light. He has a plan for absolutely everything. And he loves us, will never leave us, will never stop blessing us.
I want to share a story with you...

Two old friends met each other on the street one day.  One looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears.  His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, my old friend?”
The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you:  three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money.”
“But you see, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand dollars, free and clear.”
“Sounds to me that you’ve been very blessed.”
“You don’t understand!” he interrupted.  “Last week my great-aunt passed away.  I inherited almost a quarter of a million from her.”
Now the man’s friend was really confused.  “Then, why do you look so glum?”
“This week . . . nothing!”

That’s the problem with us. We get so used to God’s blessings that we think we are entitled to them. And the amazing things that happen daily go by unnoticed. When was the last time you thanked God for the little things?

We fail to be grateful. Let’s make an effort today to recognize what we have come to take for granted!

Oh, dear friends, if we would just stop and look around more often we would realize it’s hard NOT to be thankful!

- Bianca L.