Thankful

  Count your blessings - a phrase that came to me as I sat down to write this Christmas Eve blog.  I knew it was from a song so I googled it and got this.  

  1. 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.
    • Refrain:
      Count your blessings, name them one by one,
      Count your blessings, see what God has done!
      Count your blessings, name them one by one,
      *Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
      [*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]
  2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
    Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
    Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
    And you will keep singing as the days go by.
  3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
    Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
    Count your many blessings—*money cannot buy [*wealth can never buy]
    Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
  4. So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
    Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
    Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
    Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

This seems to be a fitting way to end the blog this year.  It would be easy to look back on 2020 as a terrible year which we would all rather forget.  But through it all God has been doing amazing things.  He has shaken us and as the dust has settled we are starting to see a little of what He has been stripping away and pruning.  This year we have all come to appreciate the little things.  The hugs.  The friendships. Sunshine and flowers.  Loo rolls.  Shops which are open and stocked with everything we need.  We have appreciated people who have usually been pretty invisible and have been kind in ways we could not have envisaged.   This year we watched a 100 year old man raise millions of pounds for charity simply by being a thoroughly decent bloke.   We have listened to virtual choirs and become a bit more adept at working our computers - even those of us who are complete technical numpties.  



Personally I enjoyed being creative this year - in the early lockdown I upcycled quite a bit of furniture.  More recently I made Christmas decorations and did a bit of painting.  I so enjoyed being out in the sunshine every day during the first lockdown, grateful for furlough payments which meant I wasn't destitute whilst getting a sun tan.  I've enjoyed some really nice time with my three teenage sons.  I managed a visit to my Mum and my best friend during one of the brief releases from captivity.  Lockdown afforded me the unexpected opportunity to do some childminding - which I have absolutely loved.  I now have a 7 year old best friend which would never have happened without Covid.


The longer I sit here and think about it the more things come to mind for which I am thankful.  We can all easily recall the difficult bits of this past year, but those recollections aren't going to cheer us up or help us to worship with gratitude.  We have a choice as we approach the end of another year - the same choice we always have. Are we going to count our blessings or moan our dissatisfaction?

I really do understand that for some people it is very hard to feel positive about anything.  Mental illness can rob us of the ability to see anything good in the world - so if you look at your life and genuinely can't think of anything to be thankful for, then that's a good indication that you need to get some help.  There is no shame in needing help. And it can be hard to ask for it - but it is lifesaving.  So do it.  If you cant talk to anyone else, then message me.  I would be honoured to help in any way I can.   For the rest of us, let's make this Christmas Eve a day of counting our blessings and being thankful. 




I'm thankful for every one of you who has read this blog in part or in full this year. Your faithfulness in reading and commenting is a big blessing to me.  I pray you all have a lovely Christmas Day, free from drama and crisis and full of peace and joy.


Love  Caz x


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