But there is a beautiful hymn that God seems to gently remind me of whenever I start to get sad, depressed, lonely, even flat out frustrated that nothing is going right in the world.
Count your blessings by Johnson Oatman, Jr., pub.1897
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.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]
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.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
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.
I have been singing hymns since I can remember, but it's only been as an adult, ok really after I had kids, that I suddenly started to really listen to the words. Understand them line by line. Honestly, there are hymns I can't sing now, because they have so much meaning to me that I can't sing without tearing up. The Old Rugged Cross would be one of those on the can't sing list.
Let me break down the Count Your Blessings hymn and how it affected me.
"When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed" Ok, this past week I have been picked on by the devil himself over getting in trouble and people mad at me when I haven't done anything wrong. Hence, I was tossed around like a boat in the storm, hiding below deck and screaming out to God to make it stop.
"When you are discouraged thinking all is lost" Yes, I thought I lost a great friendship with someone this past week. Yes, I thought that when I left my front door wide open all day, when no one was home, that not only did I just lose my possessions, but also my security. Yes, whenever the bills come in and we don't have enough money to cover them all, or when hubby has lost his job and we had two very small kids to take care of.
"Are you ever burdened with a load of care?" YES! I'm a wife, stay at home mom, maid, taxi, nurse, cook, referee, budget planner, party planner, holiday planner, crafter (because I'll go insane if I don't, and I won't have pretty things) and so much more! Did you know that women always, even when ASLEEP, always are thinking of 3 things? Did you know that? Men on the other hand has an empty box they can climb into. Literally. There can be absolutely no brain function whatsoever, because they are sitting in an empty box in their mind. No thought! None! Oy.
"Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?" Yes, yes, and yes! It seems like, as soon as I get comfortable, as soon as I get to a resting point in my life, when I can say, "whew, I can get used to this", that's the moment something happens. A parent has to have life-threatening surgery, hubby loses his job and there are no prospects for another, a kid gets desperately sick...
"When you look at others with their lands and gold" I can't watch any show on TV that has to do with rich people. It bothers me so badly, because they seem to have everything in the world, and are yet unhappy. They fight with each other, they are always desiring more, the best, the only in the world, and they just seem so shallow, so ungrateful for what they have. If I was able to pay my bills, on time, every month, and not even have to think about what I have to cut out of my life to do so, even if there was nothing left for me to (gasp) craft with, I would be the happiest and full of rest person in the world. But then again, look at what happens when I do get to that resting point.
"Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold" This makes me think that when God promised us His wealth, He never did say that we would get it here on earth. I'm sure that we get a little bit here and a little bit there, but I don't expect to get even get that on earth, because Heaven is what is waiting for me. Everlasting. Pure. Heaven.
"So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all" From the kid puking on your should have vacuumed the carpet yesterday, to a life altering illness. From a fight over who gets the last dinner roll, to not knowing where your next meal is going to come from. God IS in control. He already knows the outcome. He already know if you will lean on him or on your own faulty understanding. He knows.
So let's look at what we're supposed to do.
"Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end."
When I'm feeling down, I try to count 10 blessings. If I can't think of any blessing then I pray about it, because I'm not in a very grateful mood. So here's ten to start me off for tonight...
1) I have food, shelter, and clothing for my family and I. so, no one in this household is hungry, wet/cold/uncomfortable, and have clothing to keep them covered from any embarrassments/warm/and dry
2) I can cook from scratch and make my own bread. I can make a meal with little food that actually tastes good, and bread which not only feeds my family but gives me a great workout.
3) I have the internet. Since I am home all day with two kids, the internet is my source of communication with fellow adults, inspiration for things to do with the kids/crafts, and a learning tool to keep my mind sharp.
4) I'm smart. God gave me a mind that thirsts for knowledge and the drive to understand anything that I see.
5) I have children and a husband. God blessed me with a husband of 5 years, friend of 11 years, and soul mates since the beginning of time. We met early enough in life (high school) that we grew up together, but late enough in life to get married right out of college. I have 2 children who I adore more than anything. I have given my body up to have them (both delivered by c-section) and having one of each was my hearts desire. They are sweet and kind to all they meet and I couldn't ask for anything more.
6) I have extended family. I have family on both sides, brothers and sister, and parents, in-laws alike, that I would do anything for and they would in return. There is always a big get together for the holidays and plenty of story telling and retelling of days gone by and many a plan for the future. These people remind me that heaven will be a lot like this.
7) I have my health. Sure, I haven't seen a dentist in 8 years and I know that there's work needed to be done in there. Sure I'm the only one in my family who's not covered under heath insurance state or otherwise. But overall, I'm been pretty healthy. I don't have any kind of illness that I need to take medication for. I never broke a bone, done plenty of other things but nothing broke. And though I can loose a little bit more weight, I'm pretty darn healthy.
8) I have a bed to sleep in. It's a king size, we lucked out on that, and it's just wonderful. Soft, warm in the winter, cool-ish in the summer, I get pretty good rest. And once in awhile I wake up to my 4 year old who's snuck in between my hubby and I and is sleeping so peacefully.
9) I've been to places. Being home schooled growing up, it was my moms "duty" to take us to museums, aquariums, little working villages from the 1700's, just to teach us something. It also helped that every so often we would drive across country from one coastline to the other to visit family and we would take our time getting there and back. We saw the neatest things on those road trips.
10) I know I'm going to Heaven. In the end, no matter what happens, whether I die by war, disease, or old age, (though I hope for the latter) in the end I will be in heaven with my Heavenly Father. No pain, no suffering, no worries. That's the biggest blessing of them all.
My prayer is that those I know, everyone around me who affect my life and who's lives I affect, I hope that they will go to heaven too. I wouldn't want to miss out on spending eternity with those people in my life.
So I guess in the end, no matter what happens in life, sure it's hard while your going through it, sure it's like a fire that's too hot to bear, sure that you have no idea what you're going to do to right the situation, but at some point there is a light at the end of that tunnel and it's not the train,... it's God. He's the one who knows what the outcome is already, before you even go through it. He's the one that wants you to cast your cares upon Him. He's the one who holds the world in His hands and can make the sun stop in the sky for 3 days, or create something from nothing. If He can create new stars and blow up the old ones, if He even feeds the sparrows, then why are my troubles to much trouble for Him?
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
And you will keep singing as the days go by.Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end."
When I'm feeling down, I try to count 10 blessings. If I can't think of any blessing then I pray about it, because I'm not in a very grateful mood. So here's ten to start me off for tonight...
1) I have food, shelter, and clothing for my family and I. so, no one in this household is hungry, wet/cold/uncomfortable, and have clothing to keep them covered from any embarrassments/warm/and dry
2) I can cook from scratch and make my own bread. I can make a meal with little food that actually tastes good, and bread which not only feeds my family but gives me a great workout.
3) I have the internet. Since I am home all day with two kids, the internet is my source of communication with fellow adults, inspiration for things to do with the kids/crafts, and a learning tool to keep my mind sharp.
4) I'm smart. God gave me a mind that thirsts for knowledge and the drive to understand anything that I see.
5) I have children and a husband. God blessed me with a husband of 5 years, friend of 11 years, and soul mates since the beginning of time. We met early enough in life (high school) that we grew up together, but late enough in life to get married right out of college. I have 2 children who I adore more than anything. I have given my body up to have them (both delivered by c-section) and having one of each was my hearts desire. They are sweet and kind to all they meet and I couldn't ask for anything more.
6) I have extended family. I have family on both sides, brothers and sister, and parents, in-laws alike, that I would do anything for and they would in return. There is always a big get together for the holidays and plenty of story telling and retelling of days gone by and many a plan for the future. These people remind me that heaven will be a lot like this.
7) I have my health. Sure, I haven't seen a dentist in 8 years and I know that there's work needed to be done in there. Sure I'm the only one in my family who's not covered under heath insurance state or otherwise. But overall, I'm been pretty healthy. I don't have any kind of illness that I need to take medication for. I never broke a bone, done plenty of other things but nothing broke. And though I can loose a little bit more weight, I'm pretty darn healthy.
8) I have a bed to sleep in. It's a king size, we lucked out on that, and it's just wonderful. Soft, warm in the winter, cool-ish in the summer, I get pretty good rest. And once in awhile I wake up to my 4 year old who's snuck in between my hubby and I and is sleeping so peacefully.
9) I've been to places. Being home schooled growing up, it was my moms "duty" to take us to museums, aquariums, little working villages from the 1700's, just to teach us something. It also helped that every so often we would drive across country from one coastline to the other to visit family and we would take our time getting there and back. We saw the neatest things on those road trips.
10) I know I'm going to Heaven. In the end, no matter what happens, whether I die by war, disease, or old age, (though I hope for the latter) in the end I will be in heaven with my Heavenly Father. No pain, no suffering, no worries. That's the biggest blessing of them all.
My prayer is that those I know, everyone around me who affect my life and who's lives I affect, I hope that they will go to heaven too. I wouldn't want to miss out on spending eternity with those people in my life.
So I guess in the end, no matter what happens in life, sure it's hard while your going through it, sure it's like a fire that's too hot to bear, sure that you have no idea what you're going to do to right the situation, but at some point there is a light at the end of that tunnel and it's not the train,... it's God. He's the one who knows what the outcome is already, before you even go through it. He's the one that wants you to cast your cares upon Him. He's the one who holds the world in His hands and can make the sun stop in the sky for 3 days, or create something from nothing. If He can create new stars and blow up the old ones, if He even feeds the sparrows, then why are my troubles to much trouble for Him?
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
