As we all prepare to welcome in the new year, I thought about something that seems healthier than trying to come up with New Year’s resolutions, which so often quickly evaporate as we return to our old patterns.
Have you heard the song “When I get weary and cannot sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings”? My suggestion is that this New Year, we pause to count our many blessings, things for which we are grateful, things that have helped us, consulted us, improved our lives and brought us joy.
What is a blessing anyway?
Collins Dictionary defines a blessing as, “something good that you are grateful for.” For example, rivers are a blessing for an agricultural country.
Other definitions from Collins Dictionary:
1. The act or prayer of one who blesses; invocation or benediction
2. A grace said before or after eating
3. The gift of divine favor
4. Good wishes or approval
5. Anything that gives happiness or prevents misfortune; special benefit or favor
According to Wikipedia, “The modern English language term bless likely derives from the 1225 term blessen, which developed from the Old English blǣdsian (preserved in the Northumbrian dialect around 950 AD). The term also appears in other forms, such as blēdsian (before 830), blētsian from around 725 and blesian from around 1000, all meaning to make sacred or holy by a sacrificial custom in the Anglo-Saxon pagan period, originating in Germanic paganism; to mark with blood.”
When we think about blessings in our lives, we might think of special events in our families like the birth of a child, a graduation or marriage, or other major life event. We can be blessed by another year of relatively good health and can celebrate when those we love also experience health as well. We can be blessed by successes we have experienced this past year because of our hard work, or things we’ve accomplished. We can celebrate the blessing of friendships and how they enhance our lives. We can be grateful from a faith perspective for the gift of God and the many remarkable ways He blesses us.
I think pausing to do this can be a way to enhance our attitudes, beliefs and behaviors about our lives. How often do we feel depressed because we haven’t succeeded or are jealous of what others may have? The thoughts and feelings connected to this can be depressing. I think celebrating blessings is the opposite of feeling jealous when we don’t have as much as others seem to have.
Celebrating blessings doesn’t mean we don’t also sometimes feel sad, worried or upset. We can experience losses that lead to grieving. Even in these times we can look for blessings to embrace, recognizing that there are parts of these experiences that have enriched our lives, allowing us to experience a sense of gratitude for opportunities to fully experience all that life offers us.
Many classic songs focus on messages around our blessings such as:
“Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” recorded in 1954 and sung by Bing Crosby. Here are the lyrics:
“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you’re worried and you can’t sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings”
“Bless This House” is another sweet song recorded by Perry Como in 1989. Here are the lyrics:
“Bless this house, O Lord we pray
Make it safe by night and day
Bless these walls so firm and stout
Keeping want and trouble out
Bless the roof and chimneys tall
Let thy peace lie overall
Bless this door that it may prove
Ever open
To joy and love
Bless these windows shining bright
Letting in God’s Heavenly light
Bless the hearth, ablazing there
With smoke ascending like a prayer!
Bless the people here within’
Keep them pure and free from sin
Bless us all that we may be
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee
Bless us all that one day we may dwell
O Lord! With Thee!
With Thee”
As I wrote this blog, I found myself beginning my own list of blessings and found myself caught up in the process as the list grew and grew. I am resolving to go into this New Year deeply grateful for my many blessings. I wish the same for each of you.
Invitation for Reflection
- What thoughts, feelings, and/or memories occurred to you as you read this blog?
- How can you use the concept of counting your blessings to enrich your New Year’s experiences?
- How do you think spending some time counting your blessings will impact your attitude, beliefs and behaviors as you welcome in 2026?
Diane Wagenhals
Director Emeritus, Lakeside Global Institute