Count Your Blessings

The newest Facebook craze is to list three things every day for which you are thankful. On day one you have to nominate three of your ‘friends’ to also take up the challenge.

Nobody has nominated me yet but that doesn’t stop me from thinking and writing about the things I am thankful for.

First has to be my husband and family, and I guess most people would say the same. And, of course, most will also say “mine is the best” but what about those who can’t say that, those who, for whatever reason, have been cut off from their family or who have no family. So, yes, I am thankful for my family, but more thankful that I have one. I am beyond thankful for my parents, now both dead, but who walk with me every day. Everything I am and everything I do is because of their teaching and nurturing.

I am also thankful for my work. I am truly blessed to have a job that I love; one that is different each day bringing new people and new challenges. There is nothing, in my opinion, more satisfying than being able to help somebody who is going through the worst time of their life and I am so grateful that I was guided to this. I am also thankful for those who taught me my craft, who mentored and encouraged me along the way.

Pain free days; if you are, like me, an arthritis sufferer, this will resonate with you. I am lucky that mine is not crippling or nearly as severe as some sufferers, but it is enough to give me constant pain without medication; so on the days when I waken, and nothing very much hurts, I am oh, so thankful.

I am thankful for the internet and those who made it possible. With it I can stay in touch with friends and relatives who live overseas. Many years ago the only way we had of communicating with my husband’s sister and her family in Australia was by letter which took weeks to get there  or a telephone call which had to be ‘booked’ with the international operator. Last month we were able to see photographs of our beautiful great great nephew who was born in Perth before he was even a day old.  Used properly the internet is a wonderful learning resource It’s a dreadful reflection on society that some use it for evil purposes.

Tea, how thankful am I for tea? Tea to start a busy day and get me through the rest of it; tea for the sorrowful families we serve; tea when we’re happy, tea when we’re sad and tea just because we’re British.

“I’m on my way round Mum, put the kettle on!” The sweetest call I ever get.

Our beautiful world and those who labour to keep it beautiful: There are way too many who would rape Mother Earth for her bounty with never a thought to replenish what they have taken, and who believe that they can consume her natural resources without consequence. I have always tried both personally and in business to support those who put our planet and its people front and centre. I support fair trade and sustainable sources for all products whenever I can.

I’m thankful for my cat. He is a delightful little companion who greets me first thing every morning and is there to meet me when I return from work. He asks nothing in return for this devotion save a bowl of food morning and night and some fresh water.

I could go on listing things until this page was a mile long and still not include everything I am thankful for.

This may be just another Facebook craze but if it makes us really count our blessings, well…….