Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Day's End (01/01/14)
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TITLE: Count Your Blessings | Previous Challenge Entry
By Janet Kelly
01/09/14 -
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Would this day never end? My desk was piled high with payroll that had to be done. The budget meeting with the boss had not gone well. Now I have a splitting headache. I just want to go home. No one appreciates what I do around here anyway!
The hours seemed to be moving at a snail's pace. I finished entering the last figures for payroll just as the clock struck five. My head was still throbbing as I made my way to the car in the misting rain. Traffic was snarled at every turn. I reached into my purse and grabbed my cell phone. I dialed Jim's number praying he would answer. “Hi honey,” he answered with a cheery voice, “how was your day?”
I tried hard not to snap his head off as I asked if he would be able to pick up the girls from daycare. Traffic was going to make it impossible for me to make it on time. “Sure honey” he replied. “Don't worry I can be there in five minutes.”
My headache began to ease as I hung up the phone. I was so thankful for my sweet husband. He was good to me and always willing to help in any way he could. What a gift God had given me in Jim.
Reflecting on the events of the day I began to feel guilty for letting them affect my mood. “Dear Lord, forgive me,” I whispered.
As I walked into my kitchen a half hour later supper was simmering on the stove. Jim greeted me with a kiss and four precious little arms adorned my neck. The day was feeling much better. With supper done and the girls tucked into bed I was finally able to rest in my recliner. This was the moment I had waited for all day long.
I am so blessed, I thought to myself. I have a nice home, a wonderful husband and two precious girls. I even have a job I enjoy most of the time. So at the end of the day that is really all that matters. When all is said and done-counting the many blessings I have received from God is what it is all about.
I thought of the old hymn Count Your Blessings. The chorus said:
“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.”
Maybe instead of waiting until the end of the day to remember this, if I began each day counting my blessings I would save myself much frustration in life. Psalm 5:3 reminds us of this great truth, “My voice shall thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”
Looking up and remembering to count my blessings each and every day is now my resolve for 2014
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I thought the transition from being grumpy to thankful was a tad sudden. Perhaps after her husband called she could have turned the radio on and heard the song and felt Jesus whispering in her ear.
You did a great job of developing the MC. I could totally feel her anxiety in the beginning. You also did a fine job of writing on topic. This is a great devotion and I feel many will relate to it.
God bless~
Be careful to stay consistent with your verb tenses. In your first paragraph, you use both past and present verb tenses. This is a common and minor error, and does not affect your piece significantly--but it could make the difference between a "very good" article and an "excellent" one.
Well written description of the trials James tells us to count as joyful. (James 1:2,3) This trial produced good fruit.
It was well written, easy to follow the emotion within as well as the releaf at the end.
The change in attitude did come sudden, but that was because of your conversation with your husband. Maybe you could have developed that thought a little more, but overall, this was great!
Thanks for sharing.