Sunday, March 7, 2010

52 Blessings--52 Blessings

I’d have never guessed that posting a blessing each week would be the blessing. Like you, I’ve long known the benefits of gratitude; however, I didn’t know the payback that weekly sifting through my blessings and then narrowing them down to one to share would bring. Specificity begets realization.

As I was reviewing the week, trying to pick one blessing, I considered a dozen or more:

People that do their jobs well
Cookies
Laughing
Dr. Seuss
Cell phones in parking lots
Heart rates
Second chances
Full-moons
Biographies
Kids’ curiosity
The Holy Ghost
Fasting

After thinking about them, I realized that it was the reviewing of all of these things that was the real blessing for me this week. Posting 52 Blessings is like saying a blessing over our food that includes home-canned green beans. Usually before each meal I just say, “We’re grateful for this food. Please bless it.” And I mean it. However, on occasion when I’ve been worried about the home-canned green beans (wasn’t positive I heard the lid pop when I opened them), then my prayer is much more specific, “We’re grateful we have plenty of food. Please, please bless it (and then so as not to alarm Calvin or the kids only mentally include, especially the green beans.)” And here we are, bottles of green beans later, alive. 52 Blessings has made my blessings live longer in my mind and heart and for that I'm very grateful. Thank you whoever it was that started 52 Blessings.

8 comments:

Gail said...

Oh my, I know what you mean about the 'positive' you heard the lid pop. I quickly eat a few first, so that it can kill me first before anyone else gets a taste. It probably doesn't work that way, but it makes me feel better. From now on I will include a prayer to go along with it....should do the trick!

Deanna/Mimi said...

The comments on the canned beans brought back memories of my canning years. I lived in fear of the pressure canner, but finally learned to use it. The year my daughter (5th child) was born I canned 137 quarts of green beans. The canner gauge had to be watched constantly because of the flucuation going any where from 9 lbs to 12 pounds pressure. Poor baby Julie was crying to be fed, so I would run into her room, grab her up, put her on the breast and stand there in front of that canner to keep it regulated. Needless to say, I lost my milk. Could only nurse her 3 months. A word of caution to canners...NEVER TASTE THE FOOD OUT OF THE JAR. Take the beans out of the jar and put into a pan and boil good for 15MINUTES. Thank you for your post...I need to reflect on my everyday blessings such as you named. We have so much in our lives and sometimes don't realize it until we start "counting" those blessings. Sorry this post is so long. Hugs to you Jane.

abe said...

that's probably the reason the beans tasted so good.

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

Thank you for your 52 blessings!
It inspired me and several of my friends!
What a difference it makes to be thankful!

Tiffany Fackrell said...

funny you tell that green bean story. because for me I am always afraid I didn't boil the home canned green beans long enough to kill any bachalism(sp?) Everytime i am like, oh man I hope I boiled those long enough and they won't make any of us sick! i will just have to remember to make an extra special prayer for the green beans too!

p.s. I LOVED Abe's comment!

Emma J said...

I was beginning to worry whether all was well - nice to see you back. I love your 52 blessings.

[word verif = pingi - which I take to mean that this post is especially wholesome and safe for consumption!]

michelle said...

HA! I love your mental note during a prayer, that is classic.

"Specificity begets realization." I love that. Is there no end to the blessings that come from being grateful?

Samantha said...

When I started college my freshman year I found myself copying a roommate and writing down "things I was grateful for/things that made me smile that day" and your post reminded me of that. I could be having the worst day but I could always find something that I was grateful for, and it really changed the way I looked at everything. It also makes me want to start my own "52 blessings."