On the Minister's Mind

with Rev. Laine Morgan

“You can
Lose a child
Or a parent,
The love of your life,
A good job,
A game,
A deal,
A bet,
An idea,
Your favorite thing,
Money,
Your best friend,
A moment,
An opportunity,
A chance,
Your keys,
Your mind,
Your health,
Your identity,
Your virginity,
Your religion,
Your shirt,
Your license,
ID or Passport,
Phone or phone number,
Hope,
Faith,
Luck,
Your pride,
Or your house,
And feel like
You've lost everything,
And keep on losing.

Stop
Counting losses
And start counting your blessings.
Only then,
Will you discover that losses
Are easier to point out
And count
Than blessings,
And that blessings
Outnumber your losses
For they are truly
Immeasurable.

It is only normal that
People count losses with
Their minds,
And ignore
To count blessings
With the graciousness
Of their hearts.”
― Suzy Kassem

This writing of Suzy Kassem really hits home for me right now as I heal my broken ankle. The pace of my life has slowed, and the number of daily activities that I enjoy has diminished, leaving just a simple few. If I sat and counted all the things I have “lost” over the past 3 weeks, the list would be long, and sometimes, when I indulge in my self-pity, I consider making that list.  If I went on to count the losses throughout my life, it would be staggering.

But, what very quickly becomes remarkably evident is that there are major gifts waiting in the shadows for me to call forth and recognize.  Isn’t that always the case?

Contained in every situation, every relationship, and every moment is the complete Universe.  Whatever I choose to focus on grows bigger in my experience and in my mind.  All moments contain both blessings and losses if you really think about it.

It is only as I interpret the happenings as blessings do they become blessings.  If I interpret those same happenings as losses, they become losses….to me.  What we personalize, we claim as ours.

Every day, I allow the “graciousness of my heart” to count my blessings, and my spiritual family’s support is among them.   And, if I went on to count the blessings throughout my life, it would be staggering.

Hmmmm – which shall I count?  Which do you count?