One of my favorite songs from the beloved classic "White Christmas" is a duet sung by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. The song is titled "Count Your Blessings" and begins with these simple lyrics:
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings.
I'm counting my blessings. Even the ones that seem a bit shallow - they still count. Here is a short list I've compiled of a few things I am thankful for today:
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My Heavenly Father - without Him I don't know where I would be.
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Joel - read here for a more detailed explanation.
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My children - my reasons are simply indescribable.
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My family - and the fact that my sister is already planning my 40th birthday party which is a little over four years from now. (To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this.)
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I'm thankful that what I thought was a bright, white hair in my head was actually a piece of lint.
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I'm thankful for staying up until the wee hours of the morning talking and laughing with friends (even though it takes me a week to recover). I'll sacrifice sleep for friends any day!
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That a couple who thought their adoption fell through are now the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy!
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My home. We have a roof over our head, beds to sleep in, food to eat, clean clothes and (if I really stay on top of things) a well vacuumed floor. Home doesn't have to be big. Home doesn't have to have all the latest and greatest appliances and gadgets. Home is a shelter and safe haven for my family. I'm so grateful for our home.
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Les Schwab. (I threw this one in for my husband - he's made quite a few visits there recently.)
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Hope. I am overwhelmed by the hope we have day in and day out. Life happens (quite frequently at my house), but in the midst of it all I have hope. God is faithful. God works all things for good- even four flat tires and a blow-out. God sees everything and holds us firmly in His hands. He is my hope, and truly the reason I can get up and get moving every single day.
I could easily keep the list of blessings going, filled with detailed testimonies of God's faithfulness throughout the year. I know I am not alone. I am certain we could sit around with a cup of coffee and share all of the wonderful ways God has been good to us. I hope your Thanksgiving allows you time to stop and reflect (perhaps between turkey basting's) on your own blessings. And if you are worried, if you are coming to the end of the year and still waiting on your miracle, and if you can't sleep tonight, may you count your blessings (even the blessings of the past). May you be reminded of how faithful God was, how faithful He is, and how faithful He is going to be!
Happy Thanksgiving!