Recent Events

So this may seem like a strange "first" post-especially on a site called "recounting Our Blessings", but though Kate has been sick for the last 3 days, there are many blessings to count. First, I got lots of opportunities to snuggle with my little bean, and many opportunities to bless her with little things like her favorite jell-o or doing a puzzle together. A second is that the boys have desired to care for her in her time of need by checking on her frequently and just generally being gentle with her. It is always a treasure to see the love the kids have for each other in these moments-this kind of tenderness doesn't often show itself during light saber duals! We have seen God answer prayer by lowering Kate's fever and by helping her to be brave as the Dr. did a strep test. Saturday night Kate's fever was up to 104! Always a bit scary. So she and I prayed that God would help her fever come down. A few hours later, the boys came rushing down stairs very concerned and told me that Kate was crying. I went up to check on her and she was drenched in sweat-her fever was gone! "Kate," I said, "Your fever is gone! See how kind God was to answer our prayer?" She smiled and laughed and said "Wow, it's really gone? God did answer my prayer!" And with that she fell back to sleep.

I often find it hard to see God's blessings, God's goodness when faced with trials, or sickness-my own and especially my children's. How easily I lose sight of the bigger picture-God's promise that He works ALL things for good (Romans 8:28). It has been a fresh reminder of my/our dependence on God for all things, that I am weak but He is strong and able to do all things. It is just my weakness in seeing God's goodness in all things that I chose to title my blog "Recounting Our Blessings". My prayer is that I will continue to grow in the ability to do just that-recount my blessings and see more and more how good God is to me.

The first part of Psalm 103 was also an inspiration for the name. I was going to just copy the first couple of verses, but the whole Psalm is just too good to leave out!

103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame; [1]
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!