Count the Flowers not the Thorns

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. All day, I have tried to think of deep words of wisdom to share with each of my children. However, nothing profound came out of all my thinking. I guess the wisest words I can share are simple words and are most likely just a reminder of what they already know. So, I will choose to share the following bit of wisdom

If we try just a little, we can always find many reasons to offer up words thanksgiving. Throughout my life, countless situations occurred that seemed beyond my ability to overcome, and rarely did I find it easy to be thankful in any of those situations. There were many times when there was no money to buy groceries let alone pay the rent. There were times that waiting by the windows of my soul for circumstances to change seemed like endless days, weeks, months, and years. Sometimes endless wasn't a strong enough word to describe the disillusionment that the surrounding circumstances created within me. There were times when I feared for my children's safety and times when I would rock one of them all night long signing "I am the God that Healeth Thee".  There was once a time when I spent days, weeks and months on the phone trying to find a way to save our home, because without a miracle the bank was going to take it away. I finally lost that battle, and we moved into a rat and cockroach infested house in Waxahachie, Texas. Three long years, I lived in that house battling oversized rats, millions of Texas size roaches, a dripping drunk and often abusive husband, and the high price poverty incurs. Then there were the years of waiting for my children's dad to finally come home each night and wondering if he was sober, just drinking or so drunk he would have to crawl through the door. On and on I could go. And what's my point?

My point is this: Without a heart of thanksgiving, I would have given up, quit the whole thing and said forget it. But, I chose to look at things differently. I chose to look for the flowers in my life. Yes, I know there were thorns and believe me, those thorns never let me forget their pricks. Howerver, for every thorn, I could find a flower if I would only looked for it. So, I chose to count my blessings. And they were many. I had four beautiful children that loved me unconditionally. I was able to feed them and cloth them everyday. We had a roof over our heads. We had a good church home. Each of them were mostly healthy. On and on I could go. What's my point?

When we look for the flowers amongst the thorns, our surroundings are more beautiful, more fragrant, softer, and easier handle. Yes, there are still the pricks. Yes, they still hurt! But, the flowers, oh, how they light up the world around us. And, all those thorns somehow lose much of their sting.


So, when things are tough and all seems lost.  Look for the flowers in life. When all seems as though it will never get better.  Count your blessings. Name them one by one. I don't know why or how, but somehow it makes the darkest hours better. Somehow it causes our worst fears to flee from us. Somehow it turns our mourning into dancing. Therefore, my great words of wisdom to you this Thanksgiving is learn to: Count your flowers not your thorns.

I did, and I believe it has been and still is one of the greatest tools in my life for finding happiness in the midst of sadness, finding peace in the darkest storms, finding healing in sickness, finding love to replace fear, finding hope in despair, finding courage to keep on walking day after day in a world that knows not Christ.
Copyright by Dianna Renee Jackson