Counting My Blessings

Last month something bad happened to us. Well, it's happened to a lot of people over the past couple of years - but it happened to us....again. My husband's job was eliminated. Did I mention that this has happened a lot to us over the past few years? He is in sales, so job cuts are something that we are (unfortunately) used to.

Job loss never comes at a good time, but we are in the process of building a new house. Back in early December when I learned that my husband would not have a job at the end of the month, I was so pessimistic. I constantly whined that he would never have a job in time, that we weren't going to move into the house that we have been working so hard to afford. I would (and still am) praying fervently that he would find a job in time.

One morning while I was praying, something hit me. Well, not literally, but you get the idea. I heard this voice that said, "Kim, quit whining about what you don't have and what you can't control and start being thankful for what you do have!"

Then I started thinking about it. Here I am worrying about what I can't control, and I'm not thanking God for my blessings.

And boy, do I have a lot of wonderful, wonderful blessings! I have a wonderful husband who I have known for 20 years this June. We have been married for 15 years, and will celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary this June. He is my best friend, and love him more than I can imagine.

I have 4 healthy, beautiful, smart children. They are my heart and my joy. I love my kids with everything I am. I read so many different blogs, many of which tell stories of the loss of their precious babies, or sick children. I am so blessed that I can blog about the funny things one of my kids said, or their accomplishments in school or on the ball field. We don't have to worry about doctors' visits or trips to the hospital. I am so blessed.

I have a home. No, it's not the house that fits all our needs (is there such a thing?) but it's clean, it keeps us warm, and it suits us for now. Do I still hope and pray that the house we are building right now will be ours? Yes, most definitely. But will it be the end of the world if it doesn't happen? Nope. We will survive.

I have a job that I enjoy. So even in the scary midst of unemployment, I know that I have a stable, secure job that I will go to each day.

This positive change of heart has done wonders for me and for my husband. I am still praying every day - all the time - for him to find a great new job that fits him, but I am making sure that along with those prayers, I am remembering to thank God for all the wonderful blessings that I have in my life.