Count Your “Small” Blessings

Last year, I wrote a post about how gratitude is something we should experience year-round (Gratitude is Not Just for Thanksgiving). I realized today, though, that I haven’t taken my own advice. We are a week away from Thanksgiving, and I’ve barely given a thought to what I’m thankful for or counted my blessings.

Just as I haven’t given much thought to it all year long.

So I thought here, in a place with accountability, would be a good time to start. Especially considering I can’t encourage you to do something I haven’t even done.

I want to focus on what I consider small blessings. Arguably, any blessing from God is a big one, but we tend to only focus on what we consider big blessings, don’t we? A new vehicle, a promotion, a new family member, etc. I want to focus on the ones I normally overlook, because I think when we do that, we realize just how incredibly blessed we are.

So here goes:

1. I had plenty of food to choose from for supper.
2. I have a computer to work on.
3. I have nice clothes to wear.
4. My shoes are in good condition.
5. I have a TV I can watch for entertainment.
6. I have a Bible I can read on my own.
7. I am in good health.
8. I have two parents who are supportive and care about me.
9. I have friends I can talk to when I’m stressed, anxious, or sad.
10. I’m a member of a great church where I’m challenged and offered opportunities to serve.

I’m going to stop at ten, though I can think of plenty more, because I’ve already realized something.

I can’t complain that God isn’t taking care of me.

Because let’s face it, when God doesn’t give us what we want, we often accuse Him of being silent or not caring. I’ve been guilty of it. Yet just looking at this list I can see that God has been taking care of me. There’s no question about it.

It’s easy to lose sight of that, though, when we focus on other people’s blessings and not our own, but maybe that’s why Hebrews 13:5 says, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

When we look at what we do have instead of what we don’t, we realize we’re more blessed than what we deserve.

So I encourage you to do the same. Start making a list of the ways God has blessed you, focusing on the small things you normally overlook. You, too, will see just how great God is.