Count Your Blessings

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.

— Proverbs 16:9 (NRSV)

March Madness ( a.k.a COVID-19) basically upended my life — all of our lives. One morning my haircut was canceled just hours before my appointment because the salon owner needed to comply with the request that nonessential businesses close. That afternoon our long-awaited trip to the Philippines for a reunion and celebration with church friends was canceled by travel restraints imposed by the Filipino government. It wasn’t fair. I was angry, offended, caught up in March Madness – basically shaking my fist at the LORD. We had waited seven years for that trip! 

Then the LORD gently rebuked me, “You can make all your plans. Book your flights. Pack your bags. But it is only by my will that your plans will come to pass.” I continued to struggle with resentment until the Holy Spirit reminded me of a chorus from my childhood: “Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done.” So, I decided I would shake my fist at the virus instead: “COVID-19, you’ve got nothing on us. I’m counting my blessings.” As I counted my blessings, I realized this March Madness had indeed blessed me in unexpected ways. It kept me from feeding my sick granddaughter soup that would not have been good for her because the shelves in the store were bare. It brought a delightful new friendship into my life when a young woman I had only recently become acquainted with offered to pick up groceries for me and suggested we go for a walk. Responsibilities, that were in fact burdens were suddenly removed. God was — and still is — using COVID-19 to redirect my steps.

Prayer: Lord, no matter how far off course we are tossed, we will count our blessings. Thank You for redirecting our steps. Amen.

Vera Brennan (New York, USA)