Count Your Blessings | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Count Your Blessings

You have more to be thankful for than you realize.

98
Count Your Blessings
Jennifer Simpson

Last week, I wrote about giving thanks together despite your circumstances. You may have a lot or only a little. You might be surrounded by friends and family who love you, or you may find yourself alone in a room full of strangers. Thanksgiving might be a day of rest for you, or it might be the day of the year that you work the hardest.

What's important, though, is counting your blessings and giving thanks.

Sometimes, we feel like we don't have a lot to be thankful for. Looking for the bright side is hard when the world around you spins in turmoil. But the world still spins, and that's got to count for something.

Realizing how good we have it is sometimes a lesson in humility. While I may be thankful to have a roof over my head, those less fortunate may be thankful for the shirts on their backs and the shoes on their feet. Even when I'm having the worst day ever at work, I have a job that I love, and I'm lucky to have found it. Food, clothing, shelter and even employment are things most of us take for granted, but aren't we glad to have them?

This weekend, at church, we gave children and volunteers a chance to create a collaborative project in which they wrote down some of the things they are thankful for. Answers ranged from things like food to family to God to roller skates, and all of the kids seemed happy to participate.

Sometimes, the things kids say can help put this crazy world into perspective. Their answers are honest and their enthusiasm is earnest. Looking at the world through the eyes of a child is a marvelous thing, and we adults should try it more often. Their loving hearts always amaze me and hope that they never lose the spirit of thankfulness. If they continue at this rate, they're going to turn into some pretty awesome adults someday, and that's a thing worth giving thanks for.

In short, we all have a lot to be thankful for every day, when it comes down to it. As Thanksgiving approaches (and even after it's over), let's remember the many ways we've been blessed and celebrate the season with a grateful heart.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

185340
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

11596
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

455497
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25122
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments