Counting Your Blessings

“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.”

Written by Irving Berlin and sung by Bing Crosby in “White Christmas” (1954)

This morning, I was listening to the radio and heard about Jess King. Just two months ago, Jess and her husband Wes were living a happy life, newly married, Jess was expecting, and then Wes got sick. Then her home was broken into. Then the company she worked for filed for bankruptcy. You can read the story by clicking this link from the original source, KOTV Channel Six in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Please take a minute and read it. Here’s the link for the story written by Latoya Silmon.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8719073

Count Your Blessings. We all have our share of hard knocks. We lose jobs, loved ones, property, things. But even within all of that heartache, most people are able to find something to be grateful for. How many times have you watched a story on the news and a tornado has wiped everything away that a family has. Have you noticed that they never say. “I sure hate losing that big screen TV,” or “My DVD’s! All my DVD’s are gone!” No, it’s “We’re alive, no one was hurt, we’ll be fine.” Over and over, again and again. People are resilient. We’re pretty tough when being tough is required.

And being tough is what Jess and Wes King are doing. Friends and strangers are coming forward to help. With checks, TV’s, VCR’s, the “stuff” of life. When something happens, others always step forward to help. In droves. It’s natural for us to help others when they are in trouble. We offer help, prayers, support, friendship.

After I heard the story, I thought for a moment how blessed I have been. Sure, I had been without work for a year, and then my wife lost her job, but we never lost our home, we had enough savings to stay afloat, we always had groceries, and when we felt like we needed a break, we went out to dinner. Both of us have now found jobs, so even thought we are still in the regroup phase, we're doing well. Things aren’t bad. There are always people who are having a much more difficult time. Jess and Wes King will be on my mind for a long time.

Irving Berlin knew what he was talking about. Count Your Blessings. Today.