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,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

I was feeling a bit down this morning, as I considered some challenges that have recently come into my life.   Determined not to start a pity party, I decided to count my blessings instead.   As I started to count, my eyes lit on my pile of gifted squash and I was reminded that the blessings of God are as endless as my current supply of zucchini.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!

Despite making eight loaves of zucchini bread so far this week, I still haven’t made a dent in this pile of homegrown squash!   None of these beauties came from my garden.  I did not plant a single squash.   You guessed it- these came from my gardening friends and neighbors who are currently drowning in an abundance of zucchini and the like.  It seems like every time I use a zucchini,  more gets dropped off at our house.    As a matter of fact, my husband met a local farmer this week who practically begged him to come take some excess squash out of his field!

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.*

Be encouraged, friends.  When you stop and think about it, we’ve been gifted with more blessings than we know what to do with!  My challenges are nothing that God can’t handle.   God is good!

PS- Can I offer you some peppers or onions from my garden?  I seem to have an abundance of both….

*Lyrics from the hymn, Count Your Blessings by J. Oatman Jr.