One of my son’s recent favorite songs is Rend Collective’s “Counting Every Blessing.” It’s a good song that talks about counting every blessing from God even when we cannot see.

Last fall, we were on our way home from my uncle’s funeral and my son requested this song in the car. We had an hour and a half in the car to get home, so my husband was taking the kids’ requests. When my son asked for this song, I nearly rolled my eyes. It wasn’t a day that I felt like counting a single blessing — not one. I was grieving and hurt. That day, I certainly “could not see” as the song lyrics say.

As the song played, though, tears came to my eyes (I was surprised to find I had any left that day). It ministered to me deep in my soul and reminded me that while this was a hard, heart-breaking day, there were still blessings to be found. My sweet little ones in the backseat were blessings. Having them both request Christian songs to listen to was a blessing. Having a husband who would drive us home and let me rest was a blessing.

I have fought battles at different points in my life to see God’s blessings — so much so that I started praying for God to open my eyes to His goodness in my life. I knew in my head it was there, I think, but I didn’t feel that way for a while. As a Christian for so many years, you’d think I wouldn’t struggle with that. God didn’t create me to struggle with that. God didn’t send his Son so that I could struggle like that. Yet, in my humanity I do. And God shows up. He opens my eyes and reminds me, like He did last fall, that even in the midst of great pain blessings are still there.

Around the same time I started praying that God would open my eyes to His goodness in my life, I also started a gratitude journal. Each evening I would write down three things I was thankful for and challenge myself to find things specific to that day and not just repeat the same easy answers every evening. Before I knew it, my attitude was shifting for the better. It was helping me see what God was doing in my life. It was helping me remember my blessings even when going through a difficult season of life.

I am thankful — and blessed! — that I no longer have to keep a gratitude journal in order to recognize the good in my life. I also know, though, that I can focus so much on the negative that I have be on guard about it. I need to make sure that I continue to keep my focus on God and His goodness. Some days that’s easier than others.

As I look around me and scroll through social media, I see so many hurting people. I see people who are defeated. I see people who are suffering through terrible life situations. I see people who are broken and hurt. I see people who are close to giving up. And I get you. I may not have been in each specific situation, but I know many of those feelings and how hard they are to overcome. They are hard to get through.

But one step in the right direction is counting even the smallest blessings. I know it sounds trite; however, I can tell you from experience that it helps. And maybe you aren’t having a hard time right now. It’s still encouraging to remember how we are blessed and thank the One who gave us those blessings.

With all of that in mind, I’m asking you to join me on a social media challenge to share one little blessing each day for one week (or longer if you feel so inclined!). Just post one positive thing each day that you are thankful for. Simple. I did this a few years ago on my personal Facebook page and was blessed to have a few other people follow suit. Attitudes spread. Negative attitudes make us feel a bit worse. Positive attitudes encourage us. This world desperately needs encouragement. People need to hear positive things!

Here’s the other thing: you don’t have to do this at the exact same time as everyone else. I am starting my little blessing posts today (April 8, 2019), but this is a challenge that can be done ANY time. There is never a wrong time to count our little blessings. There is never a wrong time to spread encouragement. There is never a wrong time to thank God for His blessings.

And while I encourage you to take stock of your life as you start thinking about your blessings, get personal and dig deep, I also am telling you that you don’t have to share that on social media if you don’t want to. Instead, share even very small things you are thankful for and count as a little blessing. Hot showers. Warm clothes. Chocolate. A hug. Sparkly nail polish. Getting to sleep in.

I’d love for you to tag Families with Grace in your post. You can always find my social media links on the blog, but I’m sharing them below as well. You can even #FamiliesWithGrace and #LittleBlessingsChallenge.

Let’s spread some encouragement together! Who’s with me?!

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