Linda Buishas
“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings. When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all, and I fall asleep counting my blessings. I think about a nursery, and I picture curly heads, and one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds. If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep, and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.”
Please take a moment to open YouTube and treat yourself to Bing Crosby singing those words, for the very first time, to Rosemary Clooney in my second favorite Christmas movie of all time, White Christmas. The sentiment is ageless and a sweet reminder that there is always something for which we can be thankful.
Looking back at my life, when I had no “bankroll” at all, God only knows how He made all the opportunities possible, or how He guided our steps and circumstances that led to our being in this blessed place. Only He could arrange for us to have three beloved little “curly heads,” who are among our greatest blessings, only minutes away. Although Irving Berlin may have left out who to thank when he wrote his heartfelt song “Count Your Blessings,” I’ve always known that whatever blessings we have, we have God to thank for them.
Every morning, I greet my God and thank Him for my salvation, for His wisdom and guidance, for my husband, for our lives together, and for all of His blessings, too many to recall at that early hour. I have prayed the Prayer of Jabez, in my own words, for over 25 years, thanking God as I begin: “Thank you, Father, for all our blessings. Please continue to bless us and broaden our territories. Please continue to let Your hand be with us and keep us from evil, that we would do no harm.” I leave the meaning of “broaden our territories” to God, for I know that His plans for our increase, whether materially, spiritually, personally, or for others through us, are greater than those which I could ever imagine.
As the Prayer of Jabez ends in 1 Chronicles 4:10, “And God answered his request,” I know with all my heart that God answers mine, too. Matthew 7:11 tells us our Father loves to give good gifts to His children. Philippians 4:6 reminds us that we are not to worry about anything, and when we pray, we are to give thanksgiving to God. James 1:17 tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
As this Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I pray that you will find joy in counting your many blessings, large and small, and thank our generous, loving God for each and every one.