Blessings

There’s an old song that says: “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.” That’s what we do on Thanksgiving Day, right? Our family tradition is to go around the table and take turns naming something for which we are thankful. Maybe we should do that more often than once a year.

If you were to write out a list of blessings, how long would it be? It could include people, things, situations, and conditions. Would you remember this verse? “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning“ (James 1:17). Blessings, as I’m using the word here, means more than good luck or good fortune. I’m talking about special gifts and benefits bestowed by God. Oh, how numerous they are. None are trivial. All are undeserved, but lavished on us through grace.

In Christ, Paul said, “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:7-8, NIV). And John, who had a lot to say about God’s love, said: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (I John 3:1, NIV). Then, getting back to “every good gift,” here’s an appropriate reminder from Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

I’m sure you know all of these things, and they seem really basic. But I’m just reminding myself, along with you, to not overlook them. Be constantly thankful for them, along with every provision. Our daily food, a measure of health, friends and family, a beautiful sky, a fresh breeze, a good memory, a baby’s smile, the privilege of serving others as if we were doing it for Jesus.

On and on the list could go. I didn’t mean to start listing things. I can’t be all inclusive. But maybe that would be a good exercise this week of Thanksgiving as we celebrate God’s goodness. What’s on your list?

“All by Grace” from “A Song of Love”