COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS
Contamos Nuestras Bendiciones
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Although she may have been living in isolation as a result of the pandemic, this lady has reason to smile because she is a survivor. [Photographer: Svensøn. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
As this year draws to a close, we have reasons to count our blessings. The widespread illness that has swept the world as a pandemic has caused us to feel thankful that we and our extended family have survived. Even the elderly among our family members are still alive, for which we are thankful.
If you have elderly family members that are still alive, you have reason to be thankful. [Photographer: Siggy Nowak. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
We also are thankful for our analog washing machine and clothes dryer. Although they are considered vintage by modern standards, we are thankful that they still continue to wash our clothes and dry them. Early in our marriage, we owned a home with a large, metal laundry sink that had a built-in wash board. We had an infant at the time, so I found it useful for rinsing off some of his chunkier messes and was thankful for it.
We are thankful that we have never had to use a washtub like this one to wash our clothes. Although we have had clotheslines in the past, we have had the use of electric clothes dryers throughout our marriage. [Photographer: Kerstin Reimer. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
We are also thankful for indoor plumbing. Throughout our marriage, we have had running water, sinks, toilets, showers and bathtubs. There was a short period when we had just moved and had to wait in temporary quarters for our new-to-us house to be ready. During that time, we stayed in a kitchenette unit of a motel. The bathroom was so small that the showerhead was over the washbasin. There was no bathtub. That made us appreciate the vintage home we were purchasing.
Throughout my lifetime, I have enjoyed running water, sinks, toilets and indoor bathing facilities. I am thankful that I never had to haul water in order to use a pitcher to pour water into a bowl for washing or to rely on outdoor toilets or wells. [Photographer: Efraim Stochter. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
One summer while living in Topeka, Kansas, the church we belonged to sent volunteers to a church in a poor area of town. When we arrived, we discovered that the church did not have indoor plumbing. There were four outhouses outside – two for males and two for females. That really made me appreciate indoor facilities!
Although I grew up in houses that relied on floor furnaces as the main source of heat, my husband and I have enjoyed central heating throughout our marriage. It has been a blessing that I could only imagine in my youth.
I originally hung this plaque beneath our thermostat because that was where I had space for it. Now I realize that it's appropriate to have it there because we are so thankful for central heat and air-conditioning. [Photographer: Morris Webb, Jr.*]
Since we have heard that new refrigerators are now scarce and nearly impossible to obtain, we are thankful that ours continues to keep our perishable food cold.
Although we have experienced difficulties with small things on our car, it continues to run so that we are able to shop for groceries and other necessities.
All in all, we are thankful for our many blessings. We are especially thankful that we have each other so that neither of us has had to endure isolation alone. The Bible tells us, "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 106:1, NIV). And we do thank Him for His many blessings.
During this time when so many people are complaining about the restrictions related to the virus, we hope that you will take a moment to thank the Lord for what He has provided.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 advises: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV) [Photographer: Todd Kay. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
BIBLE VERSES USED IN THIS POSTING
Psalm 106:1 — Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (NIV).
Salmos 106:1 — Aleluya. Alabad a Jehová, porque él es bueno; Porque para siempre es su misericordia. (Reina-Valera 1960)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 — Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
1 Tesalonicenses 5:18 — Dad gracias en todo, porque esta es la voluntad de Dios para con vosotros en Cristo Jesús. (Reina-Valera 1960)
As we close the book on 2020, let's try to remember the blessings we have and be thankful for them. [Photographer: Pexels. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
* Please do not use our original photos without our permission. These include photos by Mary Hunt Webb, Morris Webb, Jr., Morris Webb, Sr., and C.B. Hunt. Thank you.
