It is best in life to count our blessings, because from
every pain or sorrow we have the choice whether to choose earthly hurt or
heavenly peace.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my
brothers. Does a spring gush forth
from the same opening both pure and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a
grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh... Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is
disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all
pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without
inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for
those who cultivate peace.
James 3:10-13, 16-18
We have been blessed for the past 26 plus years to have
in my mom’s life a friend and companion. Her husband, John, gave her joy by
allowing her to fulfill her desires to travel across the country and by growing
her groups of both family and friends. Their greatest joys together were the
times any of us gathered in their home (especially the rare times it was the
entire family) or that they visited in ours. She sacrificed much and in God’s
time she has been richly blessed. She continues to teach us what it means to
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS by choosing to be blessed with love after love.
We have been blessed to receive another dad when tragedy
could have caused “disorder.” And we have received the fruits of being blessed
by a father’s guidance, wisdom and attention. We were blessed with the comfort
and peace of knowing John was taking care of mom (and she, him). He was truly a
blessing to our family.
Our children have been blessed to have a Grandpa and Great-grandpa.
He shared his time and love of sports and fishing with them and looked forward
to their visits and the opportunities to listen to their chatter. We count
their blessings to have learned the gifts of kindness, gentleness and service from
them.
There is an appointed time for everything, and
a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to
die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a
time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a
time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones,
and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from
embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to
cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time
to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of
peace. Ecc 3: 1-8
Heavenly Father,
You have given us everything. Help me to choose to accept and count Your every
blessing given to us, for only you know in what time we need each of your gifts.
Thank you for the gift of John and all of our loved ones. May he and all the
faithful departed rest in peace in the richness of your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
www.hindthudekfuneralhomes.com
(John Perkins 1933-2012)
Count Your
Blessings,
Charlotte
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