Some time ago, a dear friend and great grandma who has faced many emotional challenges in her life, shared some thoughts about counting. This dear friend regularly reads this Warm Thoughts column and wanted to share the thoughts of an unknown author, with all you, dear readers out there, somewhere. We live in an age where we have many choices and changes.

Some time ago, I heard someone state that, "Pain is inevitable, but misery and being miserable is a choice." In the school of learning and hard knocks, the following thoughts may warm our hearts, and perhaps motivate us in our own countdown. 

Count your blessings instead of your crosses, 

Count your gains instead of your losses, 

Count your friends instead of your foes, 

Count your smiles instead of your tears,

Count your full years instead of your lean, 

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean,

Count your health instead of your wealth, 

Count on God instead of yourself. 

Thank you dear friend for sharing these warm thoughts, your thoughtful gift of sharing, perhaps touched some dear souls who take the time to read these thoughts.

A thought to ponder: Choose carefully the company you keep, or you may become what they are.

A warm thought: Choose carefully the memories you live with.

Have a beautiful day counting your blessings!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup  of Tea by Luetta G. Werner 

August 7th 1995

Published in the Marion Record

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I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina