Reminder of Gratitude

Today at church, one of the lessons was about Gratitude. A teacher shared an experience about her own life as a young Mom. This was a time when she was really struggling, really frustrated and really discouraged about her life. Her husband worked out of town a lot, she was a stay home Mom with four little children, trying to make finances meet and plus, help out with the farm, that they were living on. One particular Sunday she was very overwhelmed and discouraged. While wondering how she could possibly keep going like this, how could she handle anything more,there was a song that was sung in church that touched her heart, and changed everything for her. Even years later, she says that she is changed, because of this song and the effect it had on her heart that day. 
Here are the lyrics ( I may have shared it with you before ), but it's worth repeating!

COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS

1. 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.]
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Johnson Oatman, Jr., pub.1897

Gratitude is vital for a happy life, I know this to be true! May we all count our blessings more often!

"To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude in our hearts is to touch heaven"

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."  ~ William Arthur Ward

"When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears"   ~ Anthony Robbins