Counting

Counting                          11-25-2014

By John W. Vander Velden

There are many ways to view Thanksgiving.  For some it is a time when family and friends gather.  An occasion when they meet for perhaps the only time of the year.  Others consider the holiday a task.  Working to prepare home and meal for many mouths of those with grand appetites.  Then there are the football games.  Some use the time to delve into the sale flyers, as they make plans for Christmas shopping. 

There are many aspects to the fourth Thursday of November, a day, for most, set aside from work.  But perhaps it is a day that deserves a bit of time -- counting.  As children we counted all the time.  We counted the pennies in our bank.  On Halloween we counted the candy in our stash gathered from the neighborhood homes.  We counted checkers and counted cards.  But as we grew older we counted less.  The bank counts our money for us – those that managed to hold onto their pennies from all those years ago.  We take for granted that the deck of cards is complete, and so on. 

Yet there comes a need to assess or in the very least consider the vast number of things in our lives – to count our blessings.  And there is no better time than Thanksgiving.  Though we live in a world where the economy is fueled by purchases, a place where the media bombards us with the things we should have but do not – yet.  We forget, too easily, the bounty of our lives, overlooking the unmeasurable value found in our relationships – family, friends, coworkers and neighbors, and we take for granted ordinary things that make up our every day.

Counting helps, to take stock in the wonders of the world, the glorious sunrises, the summer evening song of the robin whose notes flow on the soft sweet breeze, the shining eyes of a laughing child, the smell of fresh baking, blueberry muffins, on a Sunday morning, the contentment of a task well done, leisurely walks with the one you love, watching the TV on quiet nights, or the innumerable other things that make up our lives.  When begin the count and we will realize the number far beyond our expectation.  Then we will understand how we are truly blessed – blessed by laughter – blessed by love – blessed by life – blessed by God.

Counting should not be reserved for one day, no matter how special that day might be.  We should count often, and while we count be grateful.  No, our lives are not perfect.  No, we will never own all the things we might want.  No, not every day of our lives will be joyful.  For there will be difficult days ahead, just as we have faced the difficult times in our past.  But though past pains might fill our mind and make the counting difficult, yet we should count – and remember – and give thanks for each day, for the joys and yes, for the hard times too.  For the hard times make us strong and give greater joy to all the rest.  

So today count – count the good things in your life.  Count family and home.  Count life and love. And give thanks for the uncountable blessings you have been given.  Open your heart to share with those less fortunate.  Giving is a blessing of its own.  Smile often, it is a gift that costs you nothing but brightens the world around you.  Take a moment to realize the bounty all around you has been given on loan – yours for a time and should be shared.  Thanksgiving is a special day – so make it special by counting.   

(608 Words)