Try…really try…to count your blessings

 

Count your blessings! …It works!

Great Parents And Counting My Blessings

I have bad arteries. This is not an attempt on my part to scold my arteries—quite frankly—they don’t really listen, anyhow. This is just describing a physical reality regarding my body.

My heart is strong, but, as my friend Greg puts it, “I have bad plumbing.”

These are the genetic cards I have been dealt.

I have never smoked or drank. I do not have diabetes. And yet I have the arteries of someone who must deal with the effects of those unhelpful health factors.

I am, nevertheless, incredibly blessed because, in spite of some unhelpful genetic realities, my parents passed along something very important—in a sense, something more important—to me.

They passed along their love, wisdom and faith in God.

Additionally, they passed along their living example of graciousness, hospitality, generosity, responsibility, work ethic, kindness, friendliness, joy and moral virtue.

So, if the question arises: Can a guy with bad arteries still recognize that he is blessed?

The answer is: [ Excuse me while I put down these pork chops… ] Yes, he can.

On Father’s Day I’m counting my blessings and thinking about having a great dad and, for that matter, great parents!

Much To Be Thankful For

Research has shown that gratitude and thankfulness are good for us emotionally and even physically.  They have an effect on things like energy levels and alertness.  It has been shown that gratitude and thankfulness affect a person’s willingness to help others.  And so, not surprisingly, it turns out that the old idea which encourages us to “count your blessings” really is good advice.

I am a person who is extraordinarily blessed.  In fact, sometimes when I really consider it honestly it’s surprising for me to recall all the good things that have been given to me.  God is good, kind and gracious. 

(By the way, this doesn’t mean I’ve come to the point at which I never complain anymore, it just means I really shouldn’t complain anymore.  But I do, once in a while.  I’m working on being more mature. I should be there any day, now.)

I can, however, say that I am genuinely thankful.  I pray you have much for which to be thankful today, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gratitude, Happiness and Thanksgiving

Dear E-Flash Friends;

What makes people happy? 

 

In recent years there has actually been a good bit of research—serious academic research—in the area of happiness.  When people are happy, what is that?

 

What has been discovered is that when people are happy one of the significant factors is gratitude.  Happy people tend to be people who experience genuine thankfulness.  You might say, to quote a Christian concept that I learned as a kid, they are people who “count their blessings.”

 

In fact, psychologists who try to help people based on this research sometimes recommend that the people keep a thankfulness journal where they are encouraged to take a few moments at the end of the day to write down things they are thankful for.

 

Today, we celebrate a holiday in which the focus is Thankfulness.  (And for some of us there is considerable focus, as well, on pumpkin pie.  But let’s put that aside for the moment.)

 

Are you aware of the blessings in your life?  Do you think about your blessings?  Do you have a real appreciation for the good things that God has given you? 

 

Real thankfulness will probably bring a little more happiness to our lives.  That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

 

I'm hoping that you all have a Happy (genuinely thankful) Thanksgiving! 

Remember that God loves you and that will never change.

 

May you experience God’s rich blessings!

Love,

Dan

"Count Your Blessings" Turns Out To Be A Good Idea

Academic research has shown that gratitude and thankfulness are good for us emotionally and even physically.  They have an effect on things like energy levels and alertness.  It has been shown that gratitude and thankfulness affect a person’s willingness to help others.  And so, not surprisingly, it turns out that the old idea of “count your blessings” really is good advice.

Be Careful About "Counting Blessings"

I have to be careful about “counting my blessings”.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good thing to do, but I have to be careful because if I begin the process of actually naming the many good ways in which I am blessed, it’s possible for me to get very embarrassed about all the times that I complain, gripe and manifest ingratitude.