Count Our Blessings

Today’s message was written by Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

One of my favorite Peanuts comic strips is one that was printed some years ago, just a few days before Thanksgiving. Lucy is feeling sorry for herself, and she laments, “My life is a drag. I’m completely fed up. I’ve never felt so low in my life.” Her little brother, Linus, tries to console her and says, “Lucy, when you’re in a mood like this, you should try to think of things you have to be thankful for. In other words, count your blessings.”

To that, Lucy says, “Ha! That’s a good one! I could count my blessings on one finger! I’ve never had anything, and I never will have anything. I don’t get half the breaks that other people get. Nothing ever goes right for me! And you talk about counting blessings! You talk about being thankful! What do I have to be thankful for?” Linus says, “Well, for one thing, you have a little brother who loves you.” With that, Lucy runs and hugs her little brother Linus as she cries tears of joy. And while she is hugging him tightly, Linus says, “Every now and then, I say the right thing.”

Well, what about us? We have a God who loves us, who loves us unconditionally. And if that doesn’t make us sing the song of thanksgiving, I don’t know what would. God loves you!

Let us pray: Generous God, who loves us not because of our merits but just because we are; we are overwhelmed by our blessings. Our lives are overflowing with gifts too numerous to mention – the marvels, and beauty of creations, life itself, family, friends, home, church community. Keep us, we pray, from ever taking for granted what we enjoy. In gratitude and humility, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.