“Count your many blessings, count them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done…”
The song has been stuck in my head all afternoon. I remember as a youth singing the song in church. I must have sung it plenty of times, because the lyrics are stuck in my subconscious. And, as things int he subconscious tend to do – they often pop out at just the right time.
A busy weekend full of blessings.
Saturday we celebrated the anniversary of my Mom and StepDad. 25 years is quite a milestone, and we were so thrilled to celebrate with family and a few dear friends.
What a blessing that among the guests we had Grandma and Pop, and Grandma Hansen. Although we missed Grandpa Hansen we were so thrilled to count our blessings together.
Mother’s Day morning I woke alongside my awesome husband. I was greeted by my beautiful daughter and lots of hugs and kisses. Some hand made cards, and a few nice gifts and we were off to church.
We traveled after church. to visit with Felix’s Mom and Dad. We endured the (It could have been worse) Belt Parkway and spent some time with his parents, sister and nephew. Felix’s Grandma passed away just a few short months ago, so this day was especially difficult for his Mom who was very close to her Mom.
On the return trip we make a quick visit to my mom and got to see the grandparents again. How many 39 year olds can kiss a few Grandmothers on Mother’s Day?
How lucky am I to hug my Mother – a feisty lovable survivor of cancer and life? How blessed am I to have her in my life -by my side?
As we headed home, absolutely exhausted. That song started in my head.
“Count your many blessings…”
I thought of the friends I have who are desperate to be mothers. The friends who had to struggle to have the children they have. The friends who have miscarried, and friends whose young children live in Heaven. I thought about friends who miss their Moms, whose hearts ache every day at the loss – whether it was last week or a decade or more ago. I thought about my friends who never got the years with their grandparents that I have had.
Shame on me for feeling tired. How lucky am I to need a list to shop for Mother’s Day Cards? How fortunate am I to have so much visiting to do that I can sparsely fit it all in?
One might think Mother’s Day is for relaxing – or spending quiet time alone. But, I am aware that those years will come all too soon. For now – let me run, and visit, and hug and chat. Let me relish the moments in a life that is fleeting.
I kissed my little girl tonight. I held her almost 5 foot frame and cuddled her as best I could.
She won’t be in school tomorrow. A rampant virus, and her rotten immune system are not a good match. She won’t plant with her science class the way she likes to. She won’t play in the yard with her friends.
Tomorrow will be yet another day in the complicated life of a little girl with a multifaceted Rare Disease. A day of differences and disappointments. A day she will handle with the same graceful smile she uses for every other aspect of her life.
My daughter is the one who reminds me to count my blessings.
And, oh do I have many!
