Does anyone remember singing this song growing up?
I called it the “blessing song”; I liked the singsong melody of it but as an adult, I cherish the words more. These words written by Andrew Rinaldi, and based on James 1 are what Thanksgiving is all about.
"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."
That last line in the song, “And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done” ❤️
I am surprised daily, not because I ever questioned God's capability to bless me; I am surprised by how much he keeps blessing me! The blessings are not all monumental but the difference is that I see them. These beautiful little blessings I can see clearly through the lens of a sober life.
My community of Joyful Surrender has been gathering blessings this past month and I want to share fifty of them with you here.
Maybe you are wondering if this could be you on Thanksgiving next year. Feeling joy and gratitude instead of secretly nursing a hangover and wishing everyone would just leave so you could take a nap.
It can be. Don’t wait another year to start receiving them. Today is brand new. That’s where the blessings begin.
My Joyful Surrender Community that inspires me every single day to do better, to be more, and to be accountable. So grateful to have this community❤️
God can move mountains. I'm grateful for a Powerful God!
Today I’m grateful that everywhere I look I am able to see you, God. Where the blue sky breaks through the clouds and the contrast of the orange leaves against it. Reminding me how fearfully and wonderfully made everything you touch is. Even me.
Having coffee with a dear friend who loves me enough to encourage me not to stay in the pit.
I am grateful today for eight years sober. For eight years of freedom from the bondage of addiction. That with the Lord's help and women like all of you here, I am really and truly free.
I am grateful to be celebrating my daughter's birthday and the woman she is becoming.
I am grateful for a very supportive spouse I am grateful for the friendships God put in my life who I am blessed to walk this sober journey with every day!
Thankful for my health
I am grateful for the WILLINGNESS to seek the peace I was craving over a relationship and that I took it to HIM first
I am grateful beyond words For every person that I talked to tonight at the concert, including David Crowder
Thankful I can travel and not even think about drinking!
Thankful for every person I met today that spoke into me.
A sleepless night caused me to be angry from the moment I woke up. So I decided to turn on the tv and find a message for me. I typed "sermon" in YouTube and said" God show me” He did
An unexpected random act of kindness from someone dear to me
Five months sober
For the warm cozy space I have to write in this morning
So thankful for my family and the support they give
Thankful for joyful surrender and the sober communities
That my instructor at Proverbs 31 class shared a personal story and my book in her IG today
Walking and hiking
Hope in the future
Thankful for my youngest grandson who wanted to give me a sponge painting he did at preschool today, I think it’s a fallen tree, or a bonfire… whatever it is I love it
My Savior Jesus who died, carried my sins away and washed me white as snow
I am grateful that in spite of some challenging health problems the Lord has always provided and kept me strong
Grateful that we have a God that is not going to give up on me and has placed a deep desire to quit drinking no matter how many times I fail
Quiet mornings
That it is a beautiful sunny gift of a day, a rarity in early November and I am going to find a way to embrace it on this busy Monday!
I am grateful for hangover free mornings
Waking up with a clear head, restful sleep, no guilt and shame and a routine I look forward to.
I am grateful for my sweet boys who love their Momma!
I am grateful for God’s healing.
I am grateful for the ability to be fully present at all times.
I am thankful for 5 years of no hangovers, no fuzzy memories, no 3:00 am anxiety attacks, no puffy face, and on an on I could go!
I am grateful that I found a group of woman that I feel comfortable with and are nonjudgmental even when I mess up. I am thankful for the accountability that I had to receive so I could continue on forward within the light of hope
Today I am thankful for my job as a nurse and I thank God for blessing me with the heart, mind, and capabilities to do my calling, and to do it well.
I'm so thankful for my husband, who puts up with my special brand of craziness on a daily basis and doesn't judge me.
Grateful that I have renewed strength and yesterday is gone. Today is a new day. Grateful for new starts and beginnings!
I’m grateful for a beautiful sunny Friday and the end of a hectic week
I’m grateful for the beautiful hike/run I went on and to experience the fall colors with a very good friend
Grateful that I am spending time with my whole family and I am sober and laughing
For a God I can go to for comfort when I want to live in a spirit of fear when terrible things happen in our world
I am visiting family for Thanksgiving, so I’m grateful for time with them! Every day sober gets me farther away from who I once was and closer to who God has called me to be
Grateful that I have this group. Thankful that my kids are all coming home today
Memories that I will have to remember every detail from the holiday instead of blackouts
The smell of Turkey and the baking I am going to do today
That my parents are able to be at my table tomorrow, so thankful they have pushed through health challenges this past year
For my family that has forgiven me and is embracing the woman I am becoming
Tonight I am watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with my Grandkids and grateful that I haven't any desire to trade that for a night at the bar
For every time I tried to quit drinking and finally succeeded
Grace, God’s grace that he blesses me with no matter what I am facing
Happy Thanksgiving! I pray this day brings you many blessings and that you count them one by one.
Jesus, thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and never letting me go.
Have a blessed day of Gratitude,
Sherry