Count Your Blessings
Sirach 11:25
In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.
How often do you spend meditating and “counting your blessings”? Often times when we think of “counting our blessings” many of us think of monetary gain. And even if we don’t think of money itself, we think of things money can buy. So if we meditate on blessings we are thankful for, we often may limit our reasoning to things such as our home, our vehicles, maybe even our clothes. But have you ever taken the time to be thankful for things money can’t buy? Like your health!?
It may be hard to imagine at first because the scriptures say money answers all things.
Ecclesiastes 10:19 KJVS
[19] A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
But in this article we will focus on a variety of other blessings. That we may not even consider.
Leviticus 21:17-23 KJVS
[17] Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. [18] For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, [19] Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, [20] Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; [21] No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. [22] He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. [23] Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the Lord do sanctify them.
These are some of the guidelines and provisions of a priest, who must be of the tribe of Levi and of the sons of Aaron. There were things that could not physically be wrong with them as to not be considered having “blemish”. And we can learn from these things and also be thankful for not having any of these blemishes ourselves or in our own children. And even if you have one of these blemishes it could be considerably worse and you could have suffer from two or three of these issues.
The first thing I would like to point out is that we can take for granted even our senses. Take the sense of sight for example and meditate on how your life would be different if you no longer were able to see with your eyes. To be able to have the sense of sight is a great blessing indeed. To be able to see and comprehend the world around us visually. To lose the ability to see the beauty in life, in nature. To see your loved ones. Without sight everything in our lives would be harder. You wouldn’t be able to drive, ride a bike or scooter safely. Can’t play video games, can’t watch tv, can’t read your Bible. And the list goes on! You are now forced to learn braille if you want to enjoy things like read. And your ears become your new eyes.
Which brings me to my next point. What about your sense of hearing? To be deaf. No longer able to hear the laughter of your children. To hear the voices of your loved ones. No more good night mom or good night dad. Not able to hear the counsel of your parents. No longer able to enjoy the sound of rain or even music, regardless of the genre the occasion may bring. Stuck in silence. Not even able to hear sounds of danger; a fire alarm, gunshots, not even approaching footsteps.
Your sense of smell. Not being able to smell the good and the bad. Not being able to smell rotting food in your fridge. Or maybe if that salad, milk, or your favorite topping or dressing has become soured. Even before noticeable signs like mold and mildew set in. Especially those leftovers. Imagine to not be aware of your own body odor or even the odor of your home? Let’s not forget the good scents. No longer able to enjoy the smell of your delectable desserts like fresh baked cookies or pie. No more aroma therapy. Say goodbye to the smell of fresh linen, lemon or lavender you love. Even to be able to be alerted to the smell of a gas leak in your home.
The sense of taste. The ability to perceive flavors. Sweet, tangy, salty, spicy, sour. All of that to go away and just taste dull or bland. Where all flavors mix into a mundane blah. The joy and pleasure of eating has been reduced to a bowl of unsweetened and straight oatmeal for every meal. Or unsalted (or unsweetened) grits. Eating turns into more of a chore or survival tactic than a meal to look forward to. A treat becomes foreign and all you can look forward to is a cold or warm sensation.
Which brings me to the sense of touch. To be numb. no longer able to feel anything in our body. As if we are completely frost bitten. And all nerves have lost functionality. No more pleasure. A foot rub means nothing. A back message has no value. No more head or scalp messages. The joy of sexual intimacy has vanished. Even pain has left the building. No longer are you aware of cold or hot. Only the devastating after effects of a bad burn or frost bitten extremity.
And to think, that is just the senses alone. We haven’t even meditated on if I have extremities that are severely bent or crooked. Imagine your arm being stuck in a fixed position unable to be bent or straightened. A leg unable to fully straighten, feet that are horribly bent inward or sideways.
Thankful not to suffer from dwarfism, never obtaining any significant height. Stuck permanently at a height as if I were anywhere between 4-6 years old.
Imagine being in a place where you are unable to walk without the assistance of another person to help you. Or just being born without legs or arms.
Proverbs 25:24 KJVS
[24] It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
We can take for granted a healthy marriageable relationship. Where you don’t have to worry about a physically abusive spouse. Or someone who is always argumentative.
Proverbs 17:1 KJVS
[1] Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Imagine always having to argue with your spouse or kids. Always having contention or strife. Or feeling like you have to walk on eggshells in your own home.
Proverbs 15:17 KJVS
[17] Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Better to be poor and have love and happiness, than to have wealth at the cost of having envy, pride and hatred with it in your home.
Proverbs 16:7 KJVS
[7] When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
It is a blessing to have even your enemies be in a state of peace with you. Rather than having to be on high alert or always looking over your shoulder.
Sirach 30:24 KJVA
Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time.
Being in a state of high or constant stress, shorten the life. Even being mad or jealous all the time even harboring grudges. All that negativity takes up more mental bandwidth and breeds negative thoughts, and negative feelings. Which will lead to everything and anything ranging from a stroke to stomach ulcers. The harboring of those evil spirits begins to have effects on the physical bodies we posses.
Sirach 30:15 KJVA
Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth.
There is no price you can put on your health! Even if you were able to win the lottery and acquire vast riches, it would mean nothing if it came at the cost of your health. You are your greatest asset. Not your car, not your house, nor your clothes. All those things are tangible and can be replaced. But you can’t replace YOU. You may not be rich but you are still wealthy!
Sirach 30:17 KJVA
Death is better than a bitter life or continual sickness.
Many may think death is the worse thing ever. However, there are fates worse than death! It is better to die than be in a state of continual sickness or have a life full of hell and affliction. Some situations in life or diseases can be miserable if you have to endure them long term. Even if death may hurt it is often only momentarily. Need it be a few seconds or a few minutes. But a long sickness or a lot of hell in your life is a slow death that can become unbearable.
Psalm 119:165 KJVS
[165] Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
We can forget that one of the most precious blessings is peace. Peace runs into all areas. Peace in your home, peace in your relationships, peace in both mind and body. Having a sound mind. The absence of fear, sickness, sorrow, threats, hatred; is true peace. Which is a great price. I pray you meditate on these things and in your prayers express your gratitude for the blessings the Most High has granted you.
Sirach 1:18 KJVA
The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing that love him.
