Count Your Blessings

In early 1941, our country was only a few months away from being drawn into World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  President Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, was adamant that the USA not cower to “war lords” or to the pagan interests of oppressive regimes. Strong language indeed.

Later on in this speech, President Roosevelt declared that our country should remain in the fight for four freedoms: “Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Fear.” These are still liberties that we treasure and for which we should be grateful.

The following year, artist Norman Rockwell painted four pictures illustrating these freedoms.

One of the paintings is a scene around a Thanksgiving table where family, food, and friends gather. The food is plentiful and those around the table are smiling and looking lovingly at each other. The title that Mr. Rockwell gave this masterpiece was Freedom from Want. This he most likely meant as a reminder of all that God’s hand had provided and for which we must give Him praise. The Rockwell paintings are copy written so I can’t display them here, but you can see them on the internet on various sites.

Here is a hymn that I remember singing in church where I grew up.

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”

I like this because it encourages me to enumerate all the things that the Lord has done for me. My list would be endless if I start right now.

Make a list of all the things He has done for you. Like the psalmist writes in Psalm 40:5 (NASB)

“Many, Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is no one to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.”