Count Your Blessings
There are certain sayings that have worked their way into our social fabric that I find curious. For instance, "Bless his/her heart..." It is a nice gesture, however, in many parts of our society, especially south of here, way south, maybe, "Bless his/her heart" is preceded or followed by a disapproving, critical remark. "He's as dumb as a stump. That's why he keeps messing it up for the rest of us. Bless his heart." A curious phrase as it pronounces blessing mixed with judgmental criticism. The phrase that stands out to me, though, as we enter the glorious month of November is this, "Count your blessings." Whenever I hear "Count your blessings," I have a slight physical reaction that feels like dissatisfaction. I don't think that is what is
intended; it's just what jumps from my bones. This, I am sure, is because usually my being told that phrase, that wonderfully wise statement, is at a time of loss or "failure" or lack. Maybe I wanted something when I was a little kid, say a puppy, and instead the gift was a kite. And say I was disappointed, and upon noticing, another, say an adult who could've 
given me a puppy, instructs, "Oh Greg, be happy with your kite. You need to count your blessings." This is evidence of our failure to communicate. "I don't need to count my blessings, I need a puppy. That's why I was specific, asking not for an instruction about blessing counting but for a puppy."
You might be thinking, "That was good instruction, Greg. You are very fortunate to have had such wise ones in your life when you were four years old." To which I say, "I didn't ask for your comment in my article." O.K., it was wise. Lesson learned, and I am very thankful to be parented beyond childishness and inconsiderate greed that discounts the gifs and care of other. I should be fully aware of the many blessings in my life. That life, itself, is a blessing. And, in this month, as in others, it is a wonderful month to take note, to view differently, to breathe deep and celebrate life in ways that take our attention to the beauty of the "every day," the mundane, the repeated. Family, wiggly toes, food, etc.
Still, when I hear that phrase, I don't always care for it. Not because of childish want or out of selfishness, but because sometimes, maybe often, that phrase comes to be interpreted to believing we ought not to ask for too much more. Instead, be happy with, settle for, what is already in such a way that we surrender our own ability to move, act, and cause. "It could be worse." (That's another one.) Well, it could also be better! So,
1. let us be thankful for all that we have. We have much to be thankful for in our lives.
2. let us be thankful when we are rightly in want for the ability to faithfully act and do to make things better, according to God's loving call.
Be thankful for your health, act to be caring for yourself and your wellness. Be thankful for friends, act to extend yourself in love for others. Be thankful for civil rights, and, being in want for more, act to bring about equal rights that don't yet exist. Be thankful for food on the table, and, with want in our heart for all to be fed, act to feed those who are hungry. Be thankful for a kite and those who've given it as a gift, and....well, I don't need a puppy, so I will be thankful for my dog, Gus, in a way that he experiences.
God has blessed us that we may be a blessing! Be thankful and act out of thanksgiving to move in your faith, your wellness, your relationships, and in all creation as God calls for it to be. Count your blessings and know our potential in God and our ability to grow among them.
