Mind Your Own Blessings

Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in looking at other people's lives and thinking that the grass on their side of the fence is greener than yours. We spend a lot of time thinking jealous thoughts like and wishing for the things that our friends, family, and acquaintances have. We're sure they are better off then we are, have better luck, more money, and more of God's favor. That is until you really look at their lives and talk to them about the hardships they face.

I would have thought that accomplished speaker and author, Sheila Walsh, a Women of Faith favorite and former 700 Club host, was the perfect woman. She's petite, slender, beautiful, articulate, intelligent, and seems to really know the Lord. Then I read her book "Honestly." It depicts the horrors that she faced when going through a deep depression. She lets the reader see what it's like to be in a mental institution and the criticism she faced from the public being that she is a public figure. I could tell it wasn't easy for this women. It wouldn't be easy for anyone.

I could spend a lot time dwelling on the idea that I am not as successful as Sheila and that I am not as good of a public speaker as she is. I could even whine about how she's had books published and I've yet to accomplish that desire. And if I had done that, it would have been a waste of time and not favorable in the eyes of God. He wants us to mind our own blessings rather than other's perceived blessings. Because once you dig deeper into other's lives, you'll find that you really wouldn't want to be in their shoes and many times they are enduring harder times than you.

It's time that we take a look at our lives and do a blessings inventory. We'll find there are many wonderful, positive things in our lives provided by God even during difficult times. And those are the things we need to stay focused on.

But how do you do that?

• At the end of everyday, write day all the positive things that happened to you that day. Include everything from compliments, to help you received.
• Take notice of goals that you achieved and the direct result that came from accomplishing them.
• Be grateful for every living thing in your house, pets included! Write a list of all the things you like about them and review it when they make you angry.
• Stop and realize how good you really feel when you are not sick or suffering from an illness and don't forget the feeling.
• Look around the inside and outside of your house and really take note of all the objects around you. Realize how much you realize have.
• Consider how much money you have, even if you feel like you don't have much. Just know that it is still more than people in many poor countries have.

If you have any other ideas of how to focus on to "mind your own blessings," feel free to post them in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise