Count Your Blessings

I have had something on my heart lately that I could not put into words ever since I started this blog. This past week someone else asked a question that gave words to my feelings. The question was: "How can we know that we have turned something into an idol in our lives?"  Was I using this blog to "show off" or "brag about my life?" It is a question worth asking.  Why did I start blogging? What was I trying to do?

The answer to starting the blog was that when I was told by my eye doctor that I needed bifocals, he did so gently so not to have me feel bad but I still felt old. My mother was legally blind by the time she was my age. Was I going blind? I asked the eye doctor this very question, he checked my eyes again and told me no. I just needed help seeing clearly. Again he was gentle. Still I felt old. The doctor told me that no one would be able to see that I had bifocals and so I didn't have to tell anyone.

Not telling anyone felt like I was hiding-like I was running away and pretending that nothing was wrong. That was not true to who I am. I was depressed for a while and prayed about my feelings. Since I really enjoy new technology, I felt that using it would help me feel young or at least be honest with who I am. The "Life through Bifocals" Blog was born. I once heard the saying "If there is an elephant in the room, introduce it". So I introduced the elephant in my life. I was pleased to have so much love returned to me and so much support as well as suggestions for getting used to my new eyes.

So now the question about whether this blog is becoming an idol and how to avoid that from happening. I have been praying about that too. This is what was nagging me in the past. This is what I didn't have words for - but I do now.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a history that has contributed to who they are now. Everyone has a present that helps shape who they will become in the future. Everyone has a God who has loved us in the past, loves us now, and will love us in the future. They may not know God now, but that doesn't change the fact that He exists. This blog is my story. It's a story of blessings that I have so that when the time comes that I am in the valley, the pit of despair, and see no way out, I can come back here and read my words and feel encouraged again. Here I count my blessings. Here I record my failures and my successes. Here I make known the elephants that are in my life and maybe this will help someone else to see the elephants in their life too. Does that make this blog an idol? If my aim is to journal my feelings, share what I know, share Gods truth and continually pray for His will to be done, then the answer is no. This blog is a tool.

I pray that I never make anyone feel bad about where they live, what they have or what they do. I pray that I can find humor in what is around me and enjoy the blessings that God has given to me. I pray that I will accept your questions and comments in an attitude that He would expect of me. I pray that when things go wrong (and they will) I will not be afraid of introducing that elephant as well here.

Count your blessings; name them one by one. My first and greatest blessing is my Lord Jesus Christ.

What are you blessed with?