Dear Rose Park,
This past Thursday, Sam and I went to visit Jim and Vonnie Boeve over the noon hour. A day prior, Jim had called me to share they had received the heartbreaking news of the death of their eighteen-year-old great-grandson, Max, in a motorcycle accident. As Sam and I sat with Jim and Vonnie in their living room, we heard stories filled with joy and memories filled with tears. As we were leaving, Vonnie made sure to give us each a hug and tell us to, “count your many blessings.”
The rest of the day I kept thinking about that phrase. I kept thinking of all the blessings I have. Family and friends. A warm home. A pantry filled with food. A stable and fulfilling job. I also kept thinking of the traditional hymn entitled, “Count Your Blessings.” If you don’t know it, below is the fourth verse and the chorus:
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.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
What I appreciate most about this song is that I don’t get the sense the composer is encouraging us to turn a blind eye towards life’s struggles or simply pretend they don’t exist. I also don’t get the sense the composer is hoping we’ll “fake it ‘til we make it” as if life’s difficulties aren’t in fact difficult. Instead, it’s in the midst of conflict, pain, heartbreak, and loss that we can be reminded of our greatest blessing: the faithfulness of God.
From the book of Deuteronomy, the Psalms and Wisdom Literature, the letter to the Hebrews, and beyond one of the most prominent themes we hear throughout all of scripture is that God will never leave us nor forsake us. God the Good Shepherd walks with us up the mountain and down into the valley. His rod and His staff will protect us. His faithful presence will never abandon our side. As we prepare to gather with friends and family around the Thanksgiving table, let us count our many blessings, naming them one by one: family and friends, stable jobs, ample food, warm homes and clean drinking water. But let us also give thanks and name our greatest blessing: the ongoing faithful love of God Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark
Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash