It was a busy, tiring day, and there were piles of laundry to do, loads of things to pack, and lots of projects wanting to be attended to. It would have been very easy to get grumpy and stop working, but the LORD reminded me that His grace is sufficient for whatever He brings into my day, and that He is my strength. Through Him, I can do whatever He wants me to do.
Nothing during that particular day had been unmanageably hard, it was just that continuing to do the same things all day long got tiring. Running up stairs to lay out clothes for a trip, running downstairs to check the laundry. Running upstairs to pack my brothers’ clothes. Running back downstairs to load the clothes in the trailer. Running upstairs again to gather my sisters’ clothes. Downstairs to load them. Back upstairs for the next load. Back downstairs. Over and over again.
Okay, it doesn’t sound like much, but for me, it was tiring.
I began to give thanks for the little blessings that the LORD had given me, and it was amazing the new energy He would give as I thanked Him.
Blessing Number One: I was getting exercise. No, I was not at the gym working out, but I was carrying weights in the form of piles and piles of clothes, and walking quickly. (Not on a treadmill, but up and down the stairs.)
Blessing Number 2: We get to go on a trip! This particular trip includes over six hours in the car during which we can read, catch up on sleep, or work on projects. Time in the car is a much looked-forward-to time in our family.
On one of my many trips to the laundry room, I opened the dryer for yet another load of laundry to be folded.
Blessing Number 3: We have sheets to fold. That means we have sheets and comfy beds to sleep in at night.
I reached my hand into the lint screen, not knowing exactly what I might find. Sometimes it is dirty gray lint, sometimes mostly dried grass clippings from lawn-mowing clothes the day before, and sometimes it is simply empty. But not on this load. It was full of beautiful pink fluffiness. At least beautiful for being dryer lint.
Blessing Number 4: Pink dryer lint. What a blessing this little wad of pretty trash was to me at that moment. It was a wonderful reminder that God cares even about the small things in our lives, and that His love for me is everlasting. “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
After folding the laundry, I continued to gather my family’s clothes from throughout the house to load in the trailer and realized….
Blessing Number 5: I have a family to gather clothes for! How grateful I am for each one of the people the LORD has put in my family! Life is short, and I do not ever want to take for granted the fact that I have each one of my precious siblings and my two dear parents.
What are the blessings that the LORD has given YOU today? May we all “Count our many blessings” that HE has given us.
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.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
-Johnson Oatman, 1897
I think about this now almost every time I do laundry… our lint usually isn’t pink either, 😉 but there really are so many bright and beautiful things to thank our Father for in each and every day, if we will just take the time to notice them. 💓