Tag: blessings

  • How To Count Your Blessings

    ” We seldom think of what we have, but always on what we don’t have.”

    It is most unfortunate, that most people only start living after they have had a near death experience or some other unfortunate tragedy.

    I would be lying, if I told you that I have not allowed life events to get in my way sometimes. From time to time, I allow myself the briefest of moment to feel sorry for myself. Like most, I have more bills than money and this major inconvenience leaves me rather frustrated.
    Recently however, I met a lady who had me checking the authenticity of my melancholy. This lady was blind in both eyes. Her family also recently found out that her husband has stage three cancer, which is rapidly spreading to his spine. The man who once took care of her, she has to now be taking care of and she can’t see. While talking to me, not once did she complain or feel sorry for herself or her situation. Her faith in God, has given her the courage and the confidence to believe that He (God) is able to not only restore her sight, but also heal her husband.
    I felt so ashamed of myself. If she can be happy, cheerful and optimistic in her situation, I can certainly do the same in mine. Sometimes it is not until you hear about other people’s story before you realize how blessed you are. The mere fact that you have fresh drinking water and food to eat is a tremendous blessing.
    Seriously, stop what you are doing right now and ask yourself this simple question. “What on earth, am I worried about?” I guarantee  that if you were to examine your situation closely, you will realize that it is comparatively unimportant and insignificant to what some others have to be enduring.
    You might be saying, Kymarie, you just don’t understand. My house is in foreclosure and I don’t know what to do. That might be the case, but when you are tempted to worry, ask yourself another question.” If I was to lose the house, would I be homeless and would this be the end of the world?” If you can answer NO to these questions, then you should be  counting your blessings.
    I want to say with confidence, taking our current situation into consideration. 95% of the things in our lives are good, and only 5% are bad. If we are to be happy, we have to cultivate the habit of focusing on those things which are good. Think about all the things that you should be grateful for and thank God for all His benefits.I am positive that if someone were to offer you right now a billion dollar for your two eyes, one of your legs and a couple of fingers, you would turn that person down so fast, they would think you were Usain Bolt the Jamaican sprinter and world record holder.
    Don’t wait until something bad happens before you begin to show appreciation. Resolve in your heart that you will only think thoughts that are good. Thoughts of joy, happiness, peace, health, well wishes for others and prosperity. Force yourself each morning to wake up with your heart filled with gratitude, and go over all the things you are grateful for.
    I am grateful that I have eyes to see. Ears to hear. Good health. Food to eat. Clean water to drink. Light to illuminate my path. Wonderful family and friends. A beautiful daughter. A great relationship with my ex-husband. The ability to walk unaided and a mouth to express gratitude.
    “The habit of looking on the best side of everything is worth more than all the money you could ever have in this world.”
    Positive Affirmation: Today I will count my blessing and not my troubles.
    Did you find this post inspiring? Please share it with others and leave a comment, letting me know what you are grateful for.

  • If You have not read this by Thursday – don’t bother!

    My perspective on Thanksgiving was irrevocably shaped on a Monday evening 22 years ago.  You see that eventful day started with a phone call from my mom. The call came unusually early that morning, and she did not have good news.   Dad had been rushed to the hospital late last evening, and they thought he had a suffered a stroke.  That evening, I along with my family was by dad’s bedside to hear the grim news. He had suffered massive aneurysm   and he was brain dead.   We prayed, held each other and painfully accepted the stunning verdict. This was especially stinging as he had spent 6 weeks a month prior remodeling our basement and getting to know his first grand-daughter. We had taken pictures and he would never get to see them (pre-digital camera era).  We buried him on Black Friday, an indeed dreary day from our perspective.  This event gave me riveting perspective on what is important.Time has brought healing and returned the rich perspective of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving brings a glance back into our hopes and desires, and reveals the multitude of wondrous blessings that shape our lives. This Thanksgiving,I anticipate seeing all of my immediate family members with the exception of my eldest daughter who is on a mission trip to Mozambique.For those not steepened in US culture, let me share a few definitions that shape the day. First the turkey:  A large bird whose flesh, when eaten on certain holidays has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude.  If you are new to the tradition, and are fretting about how best to manage the new bird, here is a tip.Check out butterball’s help at www.butterball.com.There you will find videos, web chats to make you a confident cook!There is also football!  Yes! My thanks that my team is not playing to invite indigestion.Seriously folks, take a moment to count your blessings.  A little history here- In 1941, the world was in bad shape.  FDR shared his hope for the world even during challenging times.  His speech inspired Norman Rockwell to capture the sentiment of his statements in a series of portraits – i.e. the four wants

    1. Freedom of speech
    2. Freedom of religion
    3. Freedom from want
    4. Freedom from fear

    Place your situation within the context of these freedoms.

    Freedom from Want

    One final advice; do not use this time to bombard yourselves with

    Continuous Negative News.

    Enjoy this joke at the media’s expense.

    A man is walking through the zoo when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion’s cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to devour her right in front of the little girl’s screaming parents. The man runs to the cage, hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the man returns her to her terrified parents.

    A newspaper reporter has seen the whole scene and says to the rescuer. “Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole life,” he says.

    “Why, it was nothing,” the man says. “Really, the lion was behind bars and I knew God would protect me just as He did Daniel in the lion’s den long, long ago. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt was right.”

    “I noticed a bible in your pocket — are you  religious?” asked the journalist.

    “Yes, and I’m a Christian on my way to a bible study,” the man replies.

    “Well, I’ll make sure this act won’t go unnoticed. I’m a journalist and tomorrow’s paper will have this on the front page,” he says before leaving.

    The following morning the man buys a copy of the newspaper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads on first page:

    Right Wing Christian Fundamentalist Assaults African Immigrant and Steals His Lunch.”

    I hope you will gain a balanced perspective on life.

    As you prepare to enjoy the beauty of this holiday, please accept this blessing.

    May your feast be that of kings.

     

    May your company be that of friends.

     

    May your hearts be that of lovers.

     

    Feel free to share your favorite item   about Thanksgiving