Count Your Blessings

On Monday, I went to my mom’s like I usually do after my stint at radio station True Country 93.5.  I arrived just after nine. It was very cold and had snowed a couple inches overnight so I thought I would shovel the driveway. You never know what might happen and I wanted to make sure the path was clear for any emergencies.

I left my home at four-thirty to travel the icy highway south and, with my mind centered on the conditions of the roads, I had forgotten my mittens. When I arrived I asked my mom if I could borrow hers. She said I could and rolled her wheelchair into her bedroom to fetch them. After donning her heavy sweatshirt over my already warm jacket for extra protection from the bitter wind, she came back and handed me her mittens.

I thought they were going to be the big black mittens with the white fur inside. Apparently, that pair is long gone because she handed me a pair of blue knitted mittens. I was confused and said “These aren’t your black mittens.” She replied “No, these are my mama’s mittens.”

My deceased grandmother, even though blind, had knitted mittens for all of us for many years. Those blue mittens might very well be the last pair in existence. I took them from her and was proud to put them on.

When I did, there was a big hole in one of the thumbs. She said “I’m sorry about the hole.” I told it was no problem and that I didn’t care because they will keep my hands warm while I shovel.

I went outside and it took, maybe, fifteen to twenty minutes to shovel her small and, thankfully, level driveway. I came back in and handed her back the mittens. I held out my hands and showed her “Look, Ma, nice and warm.” She took my hands in hers to confirm I was indeed warm to the touch. She noticed my bracelet and grabbed that hand.

“See that?” she asked me. “Look at mine.” Her hand with her bracelet around her wrist was holding my hand with my bracelet around mine. She had bought hers after watching a Hallmark movie entitled “The Blessing Bracelet”. She pointed to hers which has 4 beads on it and said “I have had a few blessings in my life but you” pointing to mine “have had so many.” She was referring to the number of beads on mine which was an entire bracelet full.

I disagreed. I told her she had had many blessings in her life including her many children that love her…and a mom that made mittens. That made her smile.

I started thinking about what she had said. This week has been a very trying week for me and my family. Lots of things have been going on and they have been difficult to get through. I wouldn’t be getting through them without people in my life that care about me and my family.

And God put them there.

He has put people in my life in so many situations and most of the time I didn’t even know I was going to need them. Family, friends, coworkers, spouses of friends, children of friends, and friends of my child…they have all come forward this week to offer support. I am so thankful for them all.

The 1954 film “White Christmas” has a scene between Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney where she explains she is having trouble sleeping. He sings to her the lyrics of the song 'Count Your Blessings' written by Irving Berlin:

“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 gettin’ small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.”

Throughout all that’s gone on in the last seven days, one thing that hasn’t changed is saying my prayers before I go to sleep. And I do fall asleep counting my blessings. And I do feel better. And I do feel peace. And I have been blessed. And I am thankful for all God has blessed me with.

So whether it takes a movie, a bracelet or a trial that nudges you to not forget you ARE blessed, remember you blessings. One of my favorite hymns is “Count Your Blessings” written by Johnson Oatman Jr in 1897 and set to music by Edwin O. Excell:

                        "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 hath done.

                        Count you blessings, name them one by one;

                        Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

                        Count your blessings, name them one by one,

                        And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

Count them. Every day. Give thanks for them. Make a habit of it. You WILL feel better. You WILL feel peace. I can testify that it is true.