~May 2014

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

 I Thessalonians 5:18  NLT

I have a decorative sign that hangs on a wall in our home that simply states ’Count Your Blessings’.  I don’t recall when I purchased it or why.  Maybe it was a day when I needed a reminder to be thankful or possibly it just so happened to match the rest of the room’s décor and I snatched it up.  Its been on the wall for so long that most days I don’t even glance over at it.  However, lately my eyes have turned to this sign endless times and I’ve been reminded of how thankful and blessed I should be.

The news has been full of stories from around the globe of a ferry sinking, a plane’s disappearance, avalanches, landslides, and deadly tornadoes.  In the blink of an eye lives have been lost and people are changed.  Just last week I witnessed the devastation of our neighbor’s house being completely engulfed by fire in a few short minutes due to the elements of strong winds and living so far from town.  It was heart-wrenching to watch, knowing they were  losing all their material possessions but so many thankful prayers were whispered that the family of six survived.

All of these events have made me reflect on my own  blessings.   Should a tornado or fire or some other type of disaster strike there is one thing that would remain; my Faith.  I am fortunate to have been raised from birth in a Christian home where at times it seemed we spent more time at the church than at home.  My mother took the words from Deuteronomy 11:18-19 to heart with her children:  ’Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; Teach them to your children’.  Every single night from a young age until we had moved out on our own, she diligently spent time with each of us, praying with us and going over hundreds of memory verses that she felt were vitally important to instill in her children.  During the teenage years I literally despised this routine each night as I preferred to just be left alone to read books.  As an adult I am extremely thankful these scriptures are forever in my memory and I can call upon them at any moment for help as I navigate through each day’s trials.  My mother taught us numerous other things by example.  She started each day with her own personal bible study, read countless books by Christian authors to expand her mind and knowledge of our Lord’s words.  A vast library she still has in her home that her adult children are welcome to use while trying to raise children and tackle other issues in life.  She filled our house and vehicles with Christian music, encouraged us to be volunteers and travel on mission trips, and joined us on the National Day of Prayer each year at our school’s flagpole.  These are just a few minor things she did as a mother of four but they made lasting impressions and memories.

I am so thankful even as an adult that I can still call upon my mom for extra prayers when times are tough, a helping hand when I might need it, or just someone who will listen to me when I need to get something off my mind.  You don’t have to be a mother to do any of these things for others or for the children in this world.  You just have to have a willing, servant heart.  Be a willing participant to teach your Faith to others!