Two years later and still counting my blessings

“Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

You’re singing it, aren’t you?

When I grew up singing this song, the song leader would stop after every verse and ask people to tell their blessings. It was a way to pull our focus back to the many blessings God had given us on daily. Sometimes nothing would come to mind until I heard someone else tell theirs, then it reminded me of something that I was thankful for and I would raise my hand and share my blessing. What a great memory. It was something I had to be reminded of after a series of events shifted my focus away from God and the many blessings I enjoy in my life.

Many of you reading this are my Facebook friends and are familiar with my daily posts. For those of you who are not familiar, let me explain what I mean by “Blessing Day 365, end of year two.”

That song “Count your Blessings” was playing in my head the day this two-year journey of counting blessings began.

I have always been a “glass-half-full” girl, the eternal optimist, but even we positive people go through very rough times. Jan. 1, 2010, was the beginning of one of the most difficult years of my life. It literally started the morning of Jan. 1 while vacationing with my family in North Carolina. My sweet mother-in-law, Connie, a former resident of the Valley, collapsed on the bathroom floor and was air-lifted to the hospital in Winston Salem. She had suffered an abdominal aneurism and we spent the entire day at the hospital praying for a miracle, but it was not to be.

Miss Connie, as many called her, went home to be with her Lord and we began planning a funeral. As difficult as this was, we all recognized that there was a blessing to be found. Prior to her sudden, unexpected passing, Miss Connie’s entire family, all 25 of us, were together for the first time; our family from Alaska, one home from the Army, and another home from college. That was a blessing.

The year of mourning had begun on New Year’s Day, and things continued to be difficult.

Later in the year, things changed drastically in my work environment and I felt I had to leave a job of nine years that I loved very much. In that job, God grew me in many ways and I am forever changed by the experiences surrounding my time there. I truly felt that God was going to turn things around and make a way for me to go back, but that wasn’t meant to be either. The blessing here? This was not God’s plan and I want to be used where he places me.

Life continued to be a challenge as I tried to find a new job. In the meantime, my daughter went through an engagement and breakup with her fiancé, which sent her into depression. This was worrisome to me as she is a strong and vibrant young lady, and to see her hurting broke my heart. The blessing here — he was not “the one” — and she has come through her depression and is thriving now. Her relationship with the Lord is so much stronger, too.

Thirteen months later, I was hired on here at the Frontiersman. The job was perfect for me. I also determined that 2011 would be a better year, no matter what my circumstances. I realized that I needed to look for the blessings in my life, that no matter what may come my way, there is always something to be thankful for. God did not promise that this life would be easy and smooth sailing. He promised that he would always be with us. He would carry us through the difficult times. All we have to do is cry out to him, and he will hear us and he will answer us.

Here is my original post:

Blessing Day 1: February 2011

“So, I’m starting something new. I’ve seen several people do a picture a day for a year, well ... how about ‘A Blessing A Day!’ Each day for 1 year I’ll count my blessings. Starting with ...

“So blessed to have Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Can’t get any better than that, so I’ll start with the best.”

What’s your blessing today?

Christy Pinkerton lives in Wasilla and has worked at the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman since 2011.

Opinions expressed on the Faith page are the author’s and are not necessarily those of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, its staff or its parent company, Wick Communications Co. To submit a column or other news for the Faith page, send email to news@frontiersman.com, or call 352-2268.