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Day 96: Count Your Blessings!



June 19, 2020

Every mom has their menu of cures for “whatever is ailing you”.  My standard list includes Neosporin and a band-aid, gargle with warm salt water, put a warm compress on it, get a bag of peas from the freezer and take some ibuprofen.  The other day I mentioned to my mom that someone thought they were getting a sty and she said, “rub it with a nickel”.  Really?  I’m not sure about that one.  I also found many interesting home remedies on Google if you need a little entertainment.  Besides cuts, bruises, headaches and cold sores, another common ailment among humans is dissatisfaction.  Max Lucado, in his book, “Anxious for Nothing” says that the widest river on earth is the one called “If Only”.  What we don’t have is on the other side and we are afraid we will never have it, so we fret and worry and forget to look around at what we do have on this side of the river.  He also writes this: “Gratitude leads us off the riverbank of If Only and escorts us into the fertile valley of Already. The anxious heart says, “Lord, if only I had this, that, or the other, I’d be okay.” The grateful heart says, “Oh, look! You’ve already given me this, that, and the other. Thank you, God.” Many of us suffer from cases of too much thinking about “what if” and “if only” that could possibly be cured with a big dose of gratitude.  A quote that I have on my fridge says: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." (Melody Beattie)  Praying with gratitude takes our focus off “us” and what we don't have and puts it on God and what He can give us.  This can only help to improve our outlook on life.  It is a good habit to strive for and comes more naturally and easily with practice.  So, when Satan throws dissatisfaction into your path to trip you up, treat your bruise with a “thank you” and continue on your way with a grateful heart. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus  Prayer, with thanksgiving, is the cure.  Smile and be joyful!    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd6J6Wgnv4M


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