Acknowledging our many blessings helps us face difficulties as they come our way. And we know they will!

Do you ever lay awake at night worrying? Only to wake up in the morning to keep worrying?  We’ve all been there! Too often difficulties seem to come in waves and we wonder just how we’ll make it through the day. That being said, life is also so full of blessings!

When I was little I went to Sunday school with my big brother Tim.  We would stand with our parents and grandparents in a little country church as we sang old gospel hymns.  Oh, the sweet memories! One of my favorite little songs was Count Your Blessings. (Take a listen!) So simple and yet so meaningful. Here are a few of the lyrics penned by Reverend Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1897:

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.

Well, my grandparents, my Mom, my Dad and my brother Tim have all “gone to heaven.” Even as I experienced that sadness, I had – and have – many, many blessings to count. And gratitude is powerful.

At a very basic level gratitude is thankfulness. An article entitled The Benefits of Gratitude in Psychology Today online tells us that, “Studies show that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude, and can increase our well-being and happiness by doing so.” We probably didn’t need studies to tell us that! What we do need sometimes is a reminder that by being thankful for the blessings in our lives we can be healthier, happier and, very likely, much more pleasant to be around!

Give gratitude a try today!

♥