Todays advice from the old farmer:* “Do not say, ‘Why is it that the former days were better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.” Solomon, Ecclesiastes 7:10, c. 935 B.C. Nearly 3,000 years ago Solomon noted the fallacy that the good ole days were better than these days, sort of a mantra every generation has opined to younger generations. During this seasons coming to the new year - I see Thanksgiving as a season stretching from ... Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day - we need to be reminded of our blessings more than wallowing in our sorrows. As bad as things are in the world today, including Washington, D.C., and as some things appear to be getting worse, we’re still living in relatively good times. The apostle Paul had Nero and a brutal Roman empire. Even when President Obama acts like he’s an emperor, we’re still not in as bad shape as those in Paul’s day. At least, not yet... * In 1897, Johnson Oatman, Jr. wrote the words and Edwin O. Excell wrote the music for one of my favorite hymns: “Count Your Blessings.” When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done... * A while back, a Facebook friend challenged me to post three things each day for seven days that I was thankful for. This was no daunting task as God has blessed me and my family far beyond anything I could ever ask or imagine. I started with what I was most thankful for on day one, then proceeded to write all the blessings I was most thankful for each day thereafter. It’s like children...we love each one the most and each is our favorite. I’m most thankful God sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of the whole world. Next I’m thankful for all the spiritual blessings God has given our family... * Speaking of family, I’m thankful for our family, our extended family and close friends. After everything is said and done during a lifetime, the most important “things” are relationships. Relationships are the only things we’ll carry with us to our extended life. Even if one doesnt believe in life after death, he or she surely understands none of us has gained anything more significant in this life than relationships with others. Who’s to say these are not the good ole days? Fifty years from now, if the Lord tarries, our children and grandchildren will reminisce about these days as the good ole days, and regale their progeny with stories of how things used to be. Let’s take advantage of this time as we enter 1915 to count our many blessings, name them one by one, and enjoy the many surprises of what the Lord has done... A chocolate thought for today; If life is like a box of chocolates, then its time for me to buy another box, I seemed to have already devoured all the good ones... Check the comments to find a great smile to welcome in the new year and a few laughs to make it that much better... Happy, happy new year and love you a bunch dear friends...
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 01:55:30 +0000