The Gratitude Attitude
Wednesday Bible Blurb The Gratitude Attitude 12 3 2025
“Count your blessings; name them one by one; Count your blessings; see what God has done; Count your blessings; name them one by one; Count you many blessings, see what God has done.” Johnson Oatman, Jr.
Life is hard. Then you die. Could this be a truism? I was on the phone with my friend Harold when he was 99 years old. He had started to have some “bad days” as he called them. He mentioned how age was “starting” to catchup to him. Then he giggled a bit. Without any hesitation he started to sing to me while we were on the phone. “Count your blessings; name them one by one; Count your blessings; see what God has done; Count your blessings; name them one by one; Count you many blessings, see what God has done.” At 99 years old he was still counting his many blessings of life and sharing his aged wisdom with others. Harold then told me how when he is not feeling well, he just sits there and starts to count his blessings. He had a full century of counting blessings. How about us? Do we “count our many blessings” when the tough times of life hit us square in the face? Or do we moan, groan and complain about how difficult our life is? We should have the Gratitude Attitude as we go through our Chrisitan life.
Harold lived to age 100 years and four months showing us his Gratitude Attitude as an example for all of us. We spoke on the phone the day before he died and he was still being thankful and grateful for all the blessings God had done for him. Paul gives us some wonderful examples of being grateful for God and His watching over us every day, even in our trials. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 [NKJV]). The “peace of God” comes from our Gratitude Attitude. Paul continues with, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (vs11). Count our many blessings, count them one by one…
The Bitterroot Mountains are fully in view from my home. Snow stays on the peaks most of the year with the beautiful green trees and then the Fall colors light up the canyons. Sunset and sunrise can be spectacular with red and orange streaks shimmering across the snow camped peaks while my little flock of sheep graze in a peaceful green field (Picture is of my yard and view). What beauty God has created! This beauty makes it easy for me to walk outside and give thanks to God with an Attitude of Gratitude for the many blessings He has done. There are days I walk outside to just look and stare at the amazing beauty of God’s creation and I give Him thanks for allowing me to live with such peace and beauty. What about the days when things don’t go right? Over my life I should have died eight times (Six lung collapses, appendix and melanoma), yet here I am. Do I still show Him the Gratitude Attitude,or do I panic and think the world will end when bad things happen? We must learn to be content in any state we find ourselves in.
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Ps. 118:1). Count your many blessings, one by one and give thanks to the LORD.
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the LORD of lords! For His mercy endures forever; To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever (Ps.136:104). “Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.” (vs 26).
I miss my friend Harold, but I know I will see him again. He is a blessing I can count. Count our blessings, daily, one by one. Make a list. Read the list and thank God for all He has done. Count your many blessings, count them one by one…
