With Advent we begin a new church year as we prepare once again to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is fitting that we move from a season of giving thanks (as a nation) for all our blessings to a season of hope-filled expectation (as Christians) in the coming of God’s greatest blessing! In these tumultuous times with so much anxiety in our nation and world about the present and future, it is all too easy to take those blessings for granted and dwell on the problems and perils. Both Thanksgiving and Advent encourage us to pause and count our blessings, and in so doing to express our gratitude to God from whom all our blessings flow. Some counselors encourage those dealing with sleepless nights or anxious days to pause at the end of the day and write down five blessings of that day. It is a discipline intended to attune us to the good in our midst that can too often be forgotten or crowded out by the din of disasters and disappointments.
This Advent season, consider taking time each day to count your blessings; you don’t have to write them down, but you could. Some of them may bring a smile to your face and some may offer joy to your heart. Some may be exceptional and some exceptionally ordinary; blessings come in all shapes and sizes! Some may spur you to action – write a note to a friend whose face crossed your mind, or allow yourself a few minutes to savor the cup of cocoa that offers you comfort and joy, or pay forward the kindness someone showed you unexpectedly, or declutter your calendar to make room for those joys of the season that are too easily squeezed out by the Christmas rush. Take note of the daily blessings that you too often take for granted, and perhaps you will appreciate them a little more and find them adding a little more joy to your life. Along the way, remember to thank God for the loves and joys and peace in your life, for the story of Christmas is full of those gifts as proclaimed by the angels: tidings of great joy and hope for all people in all times – including you and me in this time! Blessings to you and yours!
— John Peterson
