I was in a massive hospital care system in my new Florida location just an hour before writing this message where I do not have any family or friends with two sweet young women who were giving me two CT scans as part of weeks worth of testing and appointments with specialists to address a number of health issues happening simultaneously. I am also dealing with decades-long personal challenges, chronic fatigue, some very emotional unexpected issues involving others, a memory issue, an attention span and focus issue likely related to years of stress and poor sleep, and some upsetting test results just days ago. What happened with those two young women to me is preciously beautiful.
I was explaining how some of my food gets stuck in the back of my throat and cannot go down and that I was concerned about having the tests done because I had just eaten. I had never had a CT scan and wanted to make sure I wouldn’t choke in the time I was being scanned. Both women were so extremely compassionate, and one expressed her sympathy about my having this issue.
Only because God has unbelievably changed me over the years, my response to them was this. I told them how incredibly blessed I am. That there are people around the world suffering greatly, and I am blessed in comparison to so many others. Honestly, the women were shocked. They made clear they couldn’t believe I was lying on the CT scan machine feeling blessed. But indeed I was.
I then drove off and started eating my snack again after soaking my peanut butter and jelly bagel in water to make it easier going down. Blessed, blessed, blessed.
Friend, my number one blessing is the Lord Jesus Christ and a forever relationship with Him. My spiritual blessings because of Jesus are endless. My physical blessings are also endless. And though by nature I am very prone to negativity, complaining, and self-pity, the Lord is teaching me day by day to be thankful, to praise and adore and worship Him no matter what, and to realize how blessed I am in spite of – whatever hard stuff comes my way.
Would you please look at your life, would you look at the world around you, would you please look to the Lord and to the Bible, and would you please strive each and every day to be thankful to the Lord for all your blessings in spite of whatever challenges you face along the way? Oh, may it be so!
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15 NKJV
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 NKJV
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 NKJV
“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV