May your troubles be less, your blessings more and may nothing but happiness come through your door. –Irish Blessing
Blessings only come to those who notice . An unthankful heart is like a finger trying to sift the sand for iron–it doesn’t discover God’s mercies. But a thankful heart, just like the magnet, sweeps through life’s circumstances and finds daily blessings from God. …Ellen Banks Elwell
OVERLOOKED JOYS OR EVERYDAY BLESSINGS (by Neil Pasricha and others)
~The other side of the pillow. (Oh yes, when one side of the pillow loses its freshness, that other side can take over.)
~Bakery air. (Ahh, bread baking. That’s the best. I smell that often around here since I bake sourdough bread a couple of times a week. )
~Socks matching up perfecting from the dryer. (Does this ever happen? But on those rare occasions that it does, you can feel blessed.)
~Finding your keys after looking forever. (Keys do like to hide at times, but these days I seem to be always searching for where I laid down my phone. I knew I needed a bright orange case instead of a black one.)
~The friendly nods between strangers out doing the same thing. (These days all we can do is nod. I miss seeing smiles. But eyes do smile too.)
~Celebrating your pet’s birthday even though they have no idea what’s going on. (Dogs are worth celebrating. And I put a picture of Frankie here since today is his “gotcha” day when I found him at the Humane Shelter and brought him home three years ago. You think I should sing happy birthday to him? He’d probably rather take a walk.)
~Hearing someone’s smile over the phone. (You can hear smiles and right now phones are a blessing along with Facetime, Zoom meetings, and more. Things would be worse with this pandemic without a way to stay in touch.)
~Bees working through a patch of clover. (Love seeing bees in my flowers and busily helping the world of nature keep turning.”
~Blackberries hanging heavy on the vine. (You know I love this since I have so much fun picking blackberries with the grandkids. And pies and peanut butter and jam sandwiches are nice too.)
~Clocks that chime. (Love a chiming clock. I stick them in my books often. Chiming clocks show up in River to Redemption and Orchard of Hope and probably others I’m not remembering right now.)
~Butterflies and Hummingbirds. (Of course, but I don’t think I overlook these. Love butterflies and hummingbirds.)
~Padded pews. (This one made me smile. We’ve come a long way from the wooden benches that used to be in most old churches.)
~Old Hymns. (“Amazing Grace,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” and more. I could keep naming them forever. We still sing them at our country church.)
~Ripe tomatoes in the garden. (This one makes nearly everybody’s list. At least those of us who love a bacon and tomato sandwich.)
~A good book to read and a cup of tea. (That’s a mini-vacation for me.)
What everyday blessings would you add?
Happy Thanksgiving and please be assured I’m thankful for you. That’s a blessing I never overlook.
May your troubles be less, your blessings more and may nothing but happiness come through your door. –Irish Blessing
P.S. I just sent out a newsletter. If you think you are on my e-mail list and you don’t see the newsletter in your inbox, check your spam folder. The one I sent to my own inbox landed in my spam folder. What’s with that?! If you didn’t get one and would like to, just let me know and I’ll forward one to you.
Comments 6
I am thankful for Christian authors and bloggers, who are an inspiration to me!
Author
What a nice thing to read, Suzanne. I’m thankful for authors and good books too. I so appreciate you reading my stories and my blog. So I’m thankful for you.
When a tragic event made it necessary for our daughter and 14-month old granddaughter to come live with us, it was unknown how long it would be. Since her job requires long, uncertain hours, the decision for them to remain with us has proven to be easier for our daughter than dragging her sleeping child home every night. Our home is the only home that our granddaughter remembers and each time she comes in the front door, she says, in her sweet 6-year-old voice, “I’m home!” I know that one day they will have their own home again but I am so thankful to have been able to help them during a difficult time and I will be forever grateful that I was given a chance to hear “I’m home” each day. This is truly my everyday blessing!
Author
What a sweet story, Connie. I love those words, “I’m home.” Sort of matches the title of my third Rosey Corner story, Love Comes Home. It is always so good to come home to love and I’m sure that’s how your daughter and your granddaughter felt when it was necessary for them to come live with you. Somehow the Lord does find a way to bless us even when things happen that aren’t good.
There was nowhere to comment in your newsletter so I’m commenting here for both! I hope this will count as an entry for your December 15th giveaway. There are so many things to be thankful for even amid the Covid outbreak. Just a few of mine to add to your beautiful list: A warm and lovely home to quarantine in with my husband of 60 years, Continued good health at our age, Our church services broadcast on local TV, a full larder, a comfortable bed to grab a good night’s sleep, healthy children and grandchildren, the freedom to read my Bible every day and to worship as I choose, another year to celebrate Thanksgiving even though it’s not in the traditional way……that’s only scratching the surface. 😊
I must add I just finished The Innocent. I thoroughly enjoyed it and give it 5 stars! Thank you, again, Ann.
Hopefully this comment will allow an entry into your latest contest.
Happy Thanksgiving!!! 🦃🍁🦃
Author
Sure, Karen. To enter you simply had to respond/reply to the email I sent, but this works too. I’ll enter you. I liked your additional thanks list. I am with you on the nice place to live especially after my research for my books set in the 1930s in the Appalachian Mountains. I did grow up in a house that wasn’t all that warm. Had plenty of drafts and we heated it with a woodstove that didn’t really warm the kitchen area. But we survived. That doesn’t mean I can’t be thankful for heat that doesn’t require packing in wood now even if there’s no warm quite like sitting next to a wood stove.
I’m so glad you enjoyed Carlyn’s story. When I started thinking about that story, I wanted to have a dog character and I think Asher filled the bill rather well. I appreciate the review and the stars.