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The time seems ripe for a count-your-blessings column.
I admit: I’ve actually taken this stroll before. Once, years earlier, I sauntered through our house, eyeballing everything, thinking of how this or that was a blessing in my life. And then I made a list of things to be thankful for.
Today, I follow in my own footsteps, notebook in hand, looking for additional blessings to add to my already-bountiful inventory. I invite you on the journey with me and urge you to take a similar excursion through your own home.
As I enter the front door, a hallway full of paintings greets me. These are courtesy of my husband, Hooshang, who, if I do say so myself, is a gifted and prolific artist. Paintings line the hallway, they add color to the den in multiple spots, they gather in throngs in our great room, and they bring color and comfort to the bedrooms.
Not only does this sight fill me with gratitude that I have someone like this to share my life with; it also brings thankfulness that God, the great Creator, gave us mere humans the capacity for such wonderful creativity ourselves. Art, music, literature – these are some of the greatest gifts humans can share with each other. Indeed, also on my journey today, I witness stacks of books and piles of sheet music that emphasize the propensity for human imagination.
On that same thought path, I examine the bathroom. What could I possibly be thankful for in that little part of the house? Actually, it does not disappoint. I realize that we have clean, running water – both hot and cold. We have waste disposal. The overflowing clothes hamper indicates that we have plenty of towels, sweatshirts and socks. And the mind then goes to the laundry room, where we also have hot and cold water to take care of the clothes-hamper situation.
Once again, human creativity – powered by divine creativity – is taking care of things and has done so throughout the centuries.
Onward to the bedroom. There, I find a stash of cardboard boxes that contain gifts for friends and family (and maybe a few for myself!). Surely, this indicates someone who is truly blessed. I also see what some call “farmhouse antiques” – a dresser, a 1930s wicker set, two cowhide straight chairs, a restored vintage trunk – all dating back to my maternal grandmother and grandfather’s home. This, along with a display of family photos, brings the blessing of family into focus.
And don’t forget the bed itself. Sleep is unquestionably a godsend.
Moving to the great room, I discover picture windows that overlook the deck and showcase the blush of autumn leaves. Sunlight streams through the upper windows, high above, near the vaulted ceiling. Both views – again – signal the wonders of God’s creation.
A view of the kitchen spotlights the cooktop, the oven, the microwave, stacks of cookbooks – and even with multiple burners malfunctioning on the stovetop, God’s bounty is displayed in the bulging fridge and well-stocked pantries. A gathering of pill bottles bespeaks the blessing of modern medicine. The gentle green hill sloping upward toward our neighbors’ house serves as a reminder of the entirety of North Louisiana’s rolling hills, one of life’s great joys.
Finally, headed into the living room again (our house can be traversed in circular fashion), I find multiple afghans on the couch, which, with just a little thought, can symbolize the well-being and warmth the Father extends to us. A stash of Bible materials rests beside the recliner and – among items displayed on the wall of shelves – a collection of several crosses.
What better way to end the tour of blessings?
