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Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings

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Count Your Blessings-cornucopia with pumpkins

I love to hear Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney sing “Count Your Blessings” in the movie White Christmas. I also love the words of the hymn “Count Your Blessings.” In recent years, Laura Story’s “Blessings” has become another favorite.

Laura wrote “Blessings” after she learned her husband had a brain tumor. I first heard it after my husband’s brain tumor diagnosis. Laura tells her family’s story in this video.

All three of these songs remind me (and you) to be thankful.

We can count our blessings at all times and in all circumstances.

  • During good times and bad
  • Whether rich or poor
  • When alone or with others

Hard times can be blessings in disguise.

  • Illness often gives us a greater love for life.
  • Job loss sometimes leads to a better job.
  • Pain can make us stronger.
  • Money problems can teach us better spending habits.

Let’s think about the good in our lives and give thanks. When life gets hard, let’s ask God to show us the blessings in those experiences.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“May God our Father shower you with blessings and fill you with his great peace” (Colossians 1:2 TLB)

What are some of your greatest blessings? Please comment below.

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Tough Cookie

Tough Cookie

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Tough Cookie -- Tim DerringerMy husband is one tough cookie. The way he handles hard times amazes me.

A tough cookie has often experienced a hard life.

My husband has suffered from:

  • A malignant brain tumor (In 2004, he was expected to live three to five years.)
  • A heart attack, stroke, and fall that caused a severe brain injury (In 2009, all three happened the same day. He was not expected to live 24 hours.)

A tough cookie is a strong person. 

My husband refuses to give up in spite of health problems. He:

  • Almost never complains
  • Rarely gets discouraged
  • Fears little
  • Refuses to accept defeat

A tough cookie decides to make the most of life.

My husband would prefer to be healthy and able to work. However, he chooses not to be a worry wart. Instead, he enjoys what he can. He crosses each day’s bridges as he gets to them.

A tough cookie is not perfect.

No one is perfect. Life is not perfect. However, like all of us, my husband has a choice: complain or do the best he can. He says what happened to him is just the way the cookie crumbles. Therefore, he makes the best of life.

A second explanation of a tough cookie:

  • A difficult person
  • Someone who always wants his own way
  • An unpleasant co-worker

I seldom hear anyone use this second explanation.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11 NIV).

Do you know a tough cookie? Please comment below.

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Thanks to Talmadge “Tim” Derringer for permission to share part of his story.