One of my very favourite things about having older children who have moved out of the house is getting the chance to know them as independent adults, and seeing then undertake their own spiritual journey, free from our expectations. Quite often when I get together with our son Everett our conversations will turn to one of faith. As a young man he is trying to figure out who he wants to be in this crazy world we live in and what he wants to stand for. As he takes this journey of exploration he often comes to me to talk and, more often than not, he is a great reminder of things I forget or let slip in my own walk with Jesus.

On one of these occasions Everett was speaking about how focusing on feeling grateful actually changes your brain, and it got me thinking. How often in this world do we hear the words “you deserve it”, or “it’s your right”? Words have power, and maybe we should start thinking more about how these phrases can be damaging to our happiness and sense of satisfaction – because instead of fostering an attitude that fosters gratefulness for all of the blessings we have in our lives, like a home, food, a job, people that love us, these words create a sense of dissatisfaction in our brains and our hearts. They create a sense that we are entitled to more than we currently have.

Our world is designed to “sell” you on the idea that you deserve more and there isn’t a single person among us who is immune to this concept – myself included. But that is where faith is so important – because faith IS about feeling grateful. It’s about appreciating the blessings that God has given you. It’s about seeing the blessings that God is still giving you. I am never more miserable than when I am thinking about what I’m not doing, or what I don’t have. I am never happier than when I am focused on this beautiful life that God has given me.

Maybe you hate your job; but you have a job, that pays your bills. Maybe you don’t have a husband/boyfriend; but you have people in your life who love and care for you. Maybe you live with chronic pain; but you are alive and get to wake up each morning and see and hear and experience the beauty of God’s creation. You get to love and be loved. I am not saying that life isn’t tough, that it doesn’t have it’s share of heartbreak and sorrow and pain. What I’m saying is that even in these times of trial, if we focus our brains and our hearts on the things we have to be grateful for, perhaps our difficulties won’t seem quite so bleak.

I love the song by Matt Maher and Seph Schlueter – God I’m Still Counting My Blessing. It’s such a great reminder that even in the storms of life, God sees where we will land and He will always be there with us.

… It’s like it was yesterday
I was a praying for a miracle
Scared to have a little hope
And now looking back today
Seeing all the things You’ve done
I can’t even add them up

… One, two, three up to infinity
I’d run out of numbers
Before I could thank You for everything

… God, I’m still counting my blessings
For all that You’ve done in my life
The more that I look in the details
The more of Your goodness I find
Father on this side of heaven
I know that I’ll run out of time
But I will keep counting my blessings
Knowing I can’t count that high

… And I know that seasons never last forever
So, God I will remember all of the reasons
My heart has to be grateful
All the times You’ve been faithful to me

… God, I’m still counting my blessings
For all that You’ve done in my life
The more that I look in the details
The more of Your goodness I find
Father on this side of heaven
I know that I’ll run out of time
But I will keep counting my blessings
Knowing I can’t count that high

Today I’m going to count my blessings – knowing I can never count that high. God bless.

Meredith