Counting Our Blessings — Word Washed Wife

One morning I was driving my grandkids to daycare when my oldest grandson cried out from the back seat, “Sister Baby called me a Spider Butt!” Because Sister Baby is only two and looks so angelic, it was hard for me to take this tattle seriously. But, my grandson was serious. So, I smiled back at sister baby and said to her, “Say sorry.” She smiled sweetly at me and replied, “No.” I then smiled back at her as memories came back to me of her sweet Mom, my daughter, who was my only child to ever tell me “No.” I then prayed in my head about what the correct response should be. My grandson recognized my hesitation and shouted, “Count her down, Sweet Mama!” In response to my quizzical look he went on to seriously explain, “You know Sweet Mama, say, 1….2….3!” He said this in such an exaggerated fashion that I almost giggled. Next I prayed that Sister Baby did not possess her Mom’s resolve and that she would repent quickly. I started counting. I counted with as serious of a Mommy voice I could muster that early in the morning, “One……. Two….…” Thankfully, and before I got to Three, sister baby whispered, “Sorry, Bubba.” Hallelujah! I thanked her for being obedient and continued driving as I praised God under my breath. Crisis averted!

After dropping them off, l pondered the conversation I had just had with my grands. Counting down a child to good behavior is a pretty standard Mommy trick. When I was a young Mom, it is one I used with fairly good success! This technique allows the child time to process the request, determine if they want to comply and then either obey or face the consequences. I’m thankful that I didn’t have to “do the consequences” with Sister baby. I smiled again as I thought of my wonderful grandchildren; pleased with their obedience!

Random thought here … why do we count to three and not four?

Then in the spirit of Thanksgiving I started “counting down” God’s grace and mercy. And before I knew it, I was singing in the car one of my favorite old hymns:

Count Your Blessings

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 has done.

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.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

GIVE THANKS! I love the fact that God also tells us, using the exact same words three times each time, to thank Him. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever (Psalms 107:1, Psalms 118:1, 1 Chronicles 16:34).” As I celebrate this Thanksgiving, may my heart be first and foremost thankful for the unchanging and unrelenting goodness, mercy and love of our Father!

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18).”

No matter how your life is going in the natural, your response should be that of a thankful heart. This is not because we have an egotistical God who needs our praise, but rather because God is a good parent! God knows what is best for our hearts; just like the counting Mommy knows what is best for her children. Moms chase after their children’s hearts for their repentance and for them to draw closer to God. This is also God’s desire!

After Sister Baby apologized, her older brother immediately responded with, “She didn’t mean it, Sweet Mama.” I reminded him we have to take people at their word. We can’t look into their hearts; only God sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). I then reminded him to be thankful for his sister because she loves him. And honestly, she is pretty cool to have around. J He smiled, and finally agreed. Sister Baby beamed in the backseat – her smile could have melted a glacier!

As we give thanks let us also allow forgiveness to flow.

“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you (Psalms 86:5).”

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY SPOUSE. May God’s example of unrelenting love be my motivation to forgive and love my spouse again and again and again. May my actions and deeds reflect these feelings of love and thankfulness and not echo unforgiveness, disrespect or apathy. There is power in speech and confessions of thankfulness that will cause your spouse to beam, just like my granddaughter in the back of my car. Take the first step and tell your spouse how thankful you are for her/him. Then spend some time thanking God together for his or her love and patience!

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY READERS. I’m not sure what 2019 holds for the Word Washed Wife blog, but I am confident that God will be glorified. I appreciate your faithful readership. Life is busy and many of you find time each week to read my post. Thank you!

“Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2).”

I am in a season of prayer about where to go from here with the blog. I don’t want to write one single post that God has not prompted. I am thankful for the opportunity but do not want to make my own plans. I just want to be obedient. Please pray with me, friends!

LET US ALL THANK HIM FOR HIS MANY MERCIES. Me first!

I am thankful for God my Father, the creator of everything!

I am thankful for Jesus Christ, His only son, who He sent to earth so that I can be made righteous through His precious blood so that one day I may live in Heaven in the presence of God!

I am thankful for His sweet Holy Spirit that lives and moves inside each believer and makes a way for us to abide in God while still trapped in these earthly “gravity effected” bodies 😊.

I am thankful for my godly parents and the years they spent caring for me, loving me and investing in my spiritual walk. They have shown me what true daily discipleship looks like. I am forever grateful!

I am thankful for my brother and sisters who taught me how to truly practice love, repentance and forgiveness time and time again!

I am thankful for my husband who is my spiritual covering and my role model. I am thankful that he loves me more than I deserve and strives to love me like Christ loves His bride, the church!

I am thankful for my beautiful children and their spouses. They have filled my heart and life with joy and have been the very tools that God has used to grow me up. They have allowed me to get a glimpse of the magnitude of God’s love and grace to me!

I am over the top thankful for my grandchildren! They are amazing, just saying! 😊 I am thankful that my children are already shepherding their hearts to seek God and love each other well. I am thankful that God made each of them unique and that He has a special plan for each of them.

I am thankful for my church family and I am so happy to be a part of a growing faithful body of believers. Our church is not perfect, but we know Him who is perfect and we are chasing after a life that reflects His love, grace and mercy so we may be a light to the world!

I am thankful to live in a free country and exercise my rights as a US citizen to openly proclaim who Jesus is without thought of imprisonment or hardship! May I never take this for granted and proclaim Him loudly in word and deed!

I am thankful for the internet, Squarespace and for the ability to write words in a blog that are being read across the nations so that God will be glorified through our marriages.

I am thankful for God’s provision, and not just the turkey feast we may enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful for His blessings each and every day, and I am thankful that I serve a God who meets my every need!

Now it’s your turn! Please write in the comments what you are thankful for!

Let’s fill this space with praise and adoration for God!

Keep reading friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips

(Psalms 34:1).”