Here in the southern US, we are experiencing an oppressive drought. I have never seen such a dry spring and summer here. Some major cities have very real concerns about having no water at all. We are constantly praying for the blessing of rain. Some states have even held state-wide prayer days and prayer weeks.
But sometimes when we are so heavily focused on the thing we need or think we need, we forget to notice the blessings that we do have. And while our need for rain is very real, God has still blessed us in countless ways. Because of the very dry spring, we had an abundance of squash this year. Normally, the plants are stunted by powdery mildew. This year because it was so dry, powdery mildew wasn’t a problem. I had plenty for my family and to share with others. Because of the dryness, most of the plants didn’t produce very well. Tomatoes especially suffered. However, even though they were small, the tomatoes that we did have were some of the best tasting that we have ever produced. I never lacked for fresh produce this summer.
We have also not had to cut the grass very much this year, which is a great blessing for us since the riding lawn mower isn’t working. It takes a while to mow 3 acres with a push mower. We have also had fewer insects this summer – most notably mosquitoes and Japanese beetles (though the drop in Japanese beetle population my have more to do with the chickens fondness for the larvae than the dry weather – either way I am thankful). During the summer, I normally try to avoid being outdoors at dusk, if at all possible, because of mosquitoes. They seem to have a particular fondness for me. Not having mosquitoes to worry about means that I do not feel the need to slather myself or my children with pesticides and I don’t have to be concerned about things like West Nile Virus. It also means that I could enjoy the cool of the early evenings once again. One of my favorite things to do it sit on the porch swing and knit or read while the kids are playing in the yard and supper is cooking. I find it a very peaceful and meditative time.
The dry spring and summer has also provided more than the usual number of opportunities for star gazing since the night skies have been unusually clear. My kids are even learning to use a telescope. Seeing the majesty of the universe helps to reinforce the magnificence of God to me. I am still amazed that there are people who can see photographs of the universe and still insist that it was created by accident. Silly, silly people.
In addition to the dry summer, we have also had a very hot summer. This has forced us to stay indoors more than usual. While it didn’t help utility costs, the unexpected blessing is that it has given my family the opportunity for wonderful bonding time through family game nights and story time. It has also allowed us more opportunities for family Bible study. Because I am having to learn my computer coding skills as I go along, I sought the help of my family with preparing this month’s Bible Quiz. I am thrilled to report that my husband and kids provided all the questions so that I could concentrate on getting the coding correct – which was a challenge in itself. My 6 year old even came up with one of the better questions – see if you can guess which one. Ironically, I didn’t realize he had been listening the night that we read that particular passage from Exodus. Funny what will stick in the mind of a child.
None of these is a huge blessing – these are just little unexpected things with which God has blessed my life. He has given me so many blessings that I couldn’t begin to name the all. God has filled our lives with so many blessings that sometimes we don’t even see them. Take a few moments each day to look beyond your needs and see the thousands of tiny blessings that God has placed in your life. Do you have a place to live, clothing to wear, food in your pantry – then you are blessed far more than many people in the world. Take a little time to recognize these abundant blessings.
This Month’s Contest
Leave a comment on this post and share an unexpected blessing. Five names will be chosen at random to receive a CD of a Favorite Hymns from Tabitha’s Heart & Hands and an assortment of tea to enjoy on these crisp autumn evenings. If you mention the contest on your blog or website and include a link back to my website, I will add your name into the drawing an additional time. If you have more than one blog or website, I will enter your name once for each time you mention the contest and link to my website. You have until midnight on November 22nd- Thanksgiving Day – to enter. The winners names will be chosen at random on Friday, 23 November and will be posted on this blog and on the Tabitha’s Heart & Hands website. Each winner will then have one week to contact me via email to provide me with a snail mail address.
Thank you for you kind comments Lissa. Come back often.
Katie O
I am so sorry that you invested 3 years in a man who was not right for you. I know you must be in pain. But remember whenever God closes one door, He opens another. May God provide you the comfort and the strength you need to move past this terrible time. I will be praying for you.
I am enjoying your posts! It is true that we often need to slow down and look at the things we have or that have happened in our lives to realize that God IS there, and blessing us in so many ways, even though at the time, we may not see that particular ‘event’ or ‘thing’ as a “blessing”.
God DOES work all things together for good…we may not ever understand in our earthly life, HOW they could…but we WILL know. I believe that with all my heart and soul.
to Katie – I can imagine how much you are hurting right now, and how angry and disappointed, and sad you must be. What a horrible thing to find out! One thing that I see as a blessing in your situation is that God allowed you to see what was going on, before you made a lifetime commitment to your fiancee. It hurts!! I’ll be praying for you as you deal with this, and try to heal from it.
I will also be adding this blog as a link on my blog…I really enjoy this and it does encourage me so much!!!!
In Him,
Lissa
I know I already posted, but I came back and read this again. I just found out my fiance of 3 years is a lying, deceiving, cheating piece of you know what. So I am devastated, but I had my doubts about us anyway and it was the sign I needed to move on with my life and be me again… hard, and crappy situation, but I know I am better off.
I would have to say that some of my most unexpected blessings have been in me NOT getting what I THOUGHT I wanted/needed. The most recent instance of this was probably the relationship that I was in over the last 2 years. I thought he was going to be “the one.” But I know now that there were reasons why he wasn’t …
Hi Tabitha! My unexpected blessing is kind of long for a comment, so I’ll just let you read it over on my blog. Thanks!
I have linked to my blog at craftygal1965.blogspot.com
Cora
My family had some really bad things happen a few years ago, and this year we have seen what good will come of it. (ya know how you always wonder y a bad thing happens and what good will come from it someday) Well, 6 years later, we are seeing some good things. YEA!!! I’ll be posting later today and will mention it this in my blog.
http://kto13.blogspot.com
My unexpected blessing was someone I have yet to meet in person, heard that I had a need of a vacuum and is ordering me a brand new Kenmore upright and having it shipped directly to my house. We don’t even live in the same state. God really does take care of even the little things.
I will also link your contest to my blog.
Oddly enough I am also having a contest this month (October) feel free to stop by and post a comment there as well.
I enjoyed reading how you are finding the blessings in everything, miracles are all around us for sure.
Isn’t it funny how when we are praying for something for so long, believing that God will answer and then when He does, the blessing seems so unexpected? I’m celebrating the first anniversary of God’s gift to me… Harvest Moon Designs. All that I do or design goes to God’s glory. He literally gives me each design. And without Him, it could not be done.
I’ll be sure to link back to you from my personal website. I’d love to invite you all over to see ALL of my ‘unexpected’ blessings 🙂
God Bless,
Sue
http://knit1-purl2.blogspot.com/
I have so many blessings there are too many to count. This week my eight year old dyslexic son learned to read his first book (after much prayer on my end and some on his end). God is so good!!
Wow! Congratulations Elizabeth. Prayers for a healthy pregnancy.
My unexpected blessing is that I am pregnant with our second child.
I will be linking to your site.