COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS INSTEAD OF SHEEP

 

A series of essays….

HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD FEEL TO FALL ASLEEP
WHILE COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS INSTEAD
OF OUR WORRIES!

….as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Blessings

come in an assortment  of sizes and forms, with a variety of both beneficial, indistinguishable, and negative connotations. A blessing can be given, counted innumerable times, cloaked behind inventive secrecy, or mixed and blended until it breeds something that may claim to be injurious in effect for its intended recipient.

Blessings can come in the form of small, individual acts of love given to and received gratefully by those who believe that these favors are gifts bestowed by God with the intention of bringing happiness, approval, or good wishes upon them. Even 'small blessings' are seen as benefits and advantages within this upside-down world we live in and we become most thankful for them as we sift through the alternate possibilities. Having very little money can be seen as a blessing if it, at least, provides a roof over our heads and enough food on the table for our happiness and basic survival. To offer praise and devotion for this humble meal in the form of saying grace before we eat allows us to bless the food and the provider responsible for our imminent sustenance.

Blessings often come in disguise as if they were guests at a masked ball, identities denied, yet distinguishable by their ultimate good effects. Initially, a  'blessing in disguise' might appear to be unlucky or harmful. In actuality, the outcome has been shifted from initial fear to something we may become eternally grateful for. For example, a set of solemn circumstances, such as missing days at work due to illness and subsequently losing your job, might initiate a more interesting or profitable source of employment in the future; open doors we didn’t even know existed.

The soothing words of the talented lyricist, Irving Berlin, would have us all "counting our blessings instead of sheep!" And, why not? When all is right with the world, how wonderful it would feel to fall asleep while counting our blessings instead of our worries? Beating the odds by surviving what could have been a tragedy and having us then realize our good fortune is certainly grounds for counting one's blessings! When the consequences of hard work and planning fall short of our expectations, it's important to take note of other incredible things that have happened to us. This may just be the most important antidote to sadness and despair the world has ever know!

Early explorers of our vast world, fearful of the unknown, would seek the blessings of the King, Queen, or highest ranked clergy by having them invoke a higher power for assistance, support, and inspiration before beginning their long, exploratory journeys by land or sea.

Beauty can be a mixed blessing. The attention received by a person of renowned physical beauty may only be a superficial blessing if others are less likely to take him or her seriously. We humans are often caught somewhere between that which is favorable and sailing adrift upon a sea dotted by active mines, disadvantageous features that we must learn to navigate around in order to survive. Many scientists proclaimed that discovering the power of the atom was a mixed blessing. Even as it opened our world to the positive aspects of nuclear power, it also made nuclear weapons possible. 

We incorporate innumerable blessings every day of our lives, whether we choose to recognize them as such or not. It may be in the form of a short prayer of thanksgiving said before a meal; enjoying the blessings of peace or prosperity; the devout invocation of blessedness bestowed upon us by a priest during the benediction of a mass; loving permission to go, proceed, or carry on in full agreement with the ideas of another, or being touched by the help or services offered to us out of the kindness and good fortune of others.

As grandparents, we consider our grandchildren to be among our greatest blessings. When we are able to travel and explore other cultures and languages, we become blessed by our newly attained knowledge and may choose to share it with others upon returning home. Recognizing are own personal talent and being able to utilize it in order to assist, please, or offer a brighter life to someone else is a blessing we should all strive for. Good friends....a gift never to be taken lightly and an absolute blessing for life. 

The blessings and good wishes bestowed upon us through the kindness of others should be cherished and returned in favor by us to those who require them, as well. When we are blessed enough to be able to understand our own bounty and good fortune and share it with those experiencing misfortune, we will have attained the full benefits of a truly blessed life.

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

COUNTING SHEEP.....COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS!

 A series of essays....

FIVE COLORFUL IRISH FRIENDS

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Blessings are small, individual acts of love given to and received, gratefully, by those who believe that these favors are gifts bestowed by God bringing happiness, approval, or good wishes upon them. Even small blessings are seen as benefits and advantages within this topsy-turvy world we live in and we become most thankful for them as we sift through the alternate possibilities. Having very little money can be seen as a blessing if it, at the very least, provides enough food on the table for survival.

Blessings often come in disguise as if they were guests at a masked ball, identities denied, yet distinguishable by their ultimate good effects. Initially, a ‘blessing in disguise’ might be misconstrued as being negative but, in actuality, the outcome shifts from initial fear to something we might become eternally grateful for. The idea of solemn circumstances such as running late for work or losing a current job....might initiate a more interesting or profitable new position in the future.

The soothing words of the talented lyricist, Irving Berlin, would have us all “counting our blessings instead of sheep!” And, we may ask ourselves...why not?...when all is right with the world while falling asleep counting our blessings instead of our worries. Beating the odds by surviving what could have been a tragedy and having us realize our good fortune is grounds for counting our blessings! When the consequences of our hard work and planning fall short of our expectations, it is important to take note of other incredible things that have happened to us. This idea may just be the most important antidote to sadness the world has ever known!

Early explorers of our vast world, fearful of the unknown, would seek the blessings of their King, Queen, or a high ranking member of the clergy who would invoke a higher power for assistance, support, and inspiration before beginning a long journey by land or sea.

Beauty can be a mixed blessing. The attention received by a person of renowned physical beauty may only be a superficial blessing if others are less likely to take them seriously. We humans are often caught-up somewhere between that which is favorable and sailing adrift upon a sea dotted by active mines....disadvantageous features that we must learn to navigate around in order to survive. Many scientists have proclaimed that discovering the  power of the atom was a mixed blessing. Even as it opened our world to the positive aspects of nuclear power, it made nuclear weapons possible.

We incorporate innumerable blessings into our lives every day, whether we choose to recognize them as such or not. They may be in the form of a short prayer of thanksgiving recited before a meal; enjoying the blessings of peace and prosperity; the devout invocation of blessedness bestowed upon us by a priest during the benediction of a mass; the loving permission to go, proceed, or carry-on in full agreement with the ideas of another person or group of people, as well as being touched by the help or services offered to us by the kindness or good fortunes of others.

As grandparents, we consider our grandchildren to be among our greatest blessings of all! When we are able to travel and explore other lands along with their people and cultures, we are blessed by our newly attained knowledge and may choose to share this knowledge with others upon returning home. Recognizing our own personal talent and being able to utilize it in order to assist, delight, or offer a brighter life to someone else is a blessing we should all strive to achieve. And, having good friends to share everything with is a monumental gift that should never be taken lightly and will be a blessing for life!!

“Good friends are like angels. ~ You don’t have to see them to know they are there.”

At this time of year, may we recall the power and humor of the Irish Blessing and Curse. There are so many to choose from but, here is a sampling:

The blessings and good wishes bestowed upon us through the kindness of others should be cherished and returned in favor to all who require them. When we are blessed enough to be able to understand our own bounty and good fortune and capable of sharing it with those experiencing misfortune, we will then have attained the full benefits of having truly lived a blessed life. 

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! May the bountiful miracles of springtime bless us all with as much warmth and joy required to fill our hearts to the brim after such a long, cold winter.  “May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.” Irish Blessing...

Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

Photo Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS....!

A series of essays....

WHILE TAKING AN EARLY MORNING WALK AROUND
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN QUIN, IRELAND, WE SPOTTED
A BIT OF THE HOLIDAYS IN SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD.

....as seen through my eyes!





By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Irving Berlin, initially, did not intend for his song, “Count Your Blessings (Instead Of Sheep),” to become part of a classic December holiday song. However, each year we remember it in the 1954 movie, White Christmas, as two of the main characters played by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney sing it to one another in order to advance their relationship and remind themselves to remember how much they are blessed instead of brooding about short-term problems.

During the holidays of my youth, I can remember, literally, bouncing off the walls in anticipation of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve. Once, adrenaline pumped and playing my own hairdresser, I feverishly created short, jagged bangs where no bangs existed before, only after having given two of my favorite dolls a similar coiffure for the holidays! My hair grew back out. Sadly, theirs did not.

The song originally came about based on a personal experience of Berlin’s when his doctor suggested he try counting his blessings as a way to deal with his stress induced insomnia. My sweet Mother absolutely adored this movie and in a loving attempt at settling us kids down in the nights before Santa’s arrival, she would sit on the side of each of our beds and sing us to sleep via Irving Berlin’s lyrics. Maybe we didn’t quite fall asleep, but it certainly took the edge off of our childhood expectations and eyes were closed with the possibility of sleep soon to follow.

Having raised two rambunctious little ones of my own, especially around Christmastime, I was never surprised by their boisterous activities with the sound of laughter and footsteps echoing from their upstairs rooms and swirling down through the large, oak staircase before reaching my ears. For the most part, they were happy sounds, good sounds, without anyone crying or screaming. I instinctively knew the different sounds of my girls playing and precisely when parental intervention was in order as ‘good’ transformed into ‘Lord, I better get up there!’ 

So, this particular sound caught me by surprise just a few days before Christmas. It was the sound....of silence. 

“I should have known better,” is a phrase best forgotten once all is returned to a semblance of normalcy. Sitting at our claw-foot dining room table while addressing envelopes for the handwritten Christmas cards to be sent out the following day, it suddenly dawned on me that the joyous sounds of children at play had ceased. All was quiet as if a huge index finger held up to gigantic lips had totally encompassed our home on State Street. As this sudden realization roiled over me like a turbulent mixture of bubbles and foam, I heard a quiet shift of sound emanating from the kitchen right behind me.

Slowly turning around in my chair, the sight that greeted me was one that only a parent could fully appreciate. Standing side-by-side, my two angels, torn between fear and pride, faced the future with their heads up and hands down by their sides. Flashbacks struck my soul with tiny bolts of lightening piercing my heart and I knew immediately that I had one of two choices to make. I could cry like a needy baby or I could allow my gut instinct to take over and double over in my seat with tears of laughter knowing that karma was a real and, occasionally, alarming thing!

My eight-year-old, long, blond hair falling down over her eyes striking a youthful Veronica Lake pose, was attempting to hide something she held in her right hand. My youngest, having lived four-and-a-half years alongside our ‘Miss Lake
lookalike' and always having held her own, stood as still as a Roman statue while piercing me with her large, blue eyes, waiting for my approval.  

The ingenuity of my oldest lives with me, especially at Christmas, as I envision the light from the chandelier bouncing off of the scissors she held in her small hands. Without a wisp of her own hair challenged by this cutting tool, she said, “Do you like her hair, Mom? She sat really still for me while I gave her a new Christmas look. Is it okay, Mom? Why are you crying?”

Well, I must have sat there for at least one, solid minute while counting my blessings, tears in my eyes, and staring at the short, jagged bangs where no bangs existed before on our youngest daughter. It was as though I was transported back into time, sharing my own cunning imagination with the world without a thought of possible consequences. Unsuccessfully holding back tears of wonder.....feeling relieved and thankful, I sat thinking to myself, it will grow back and no eyes were put out or skin marred in the process!

I realized way back then that our blessings come in many shapes, forms, and sizes. Counting them each night instead of sheep in order to rest softly upon our pillows, dream encouraging dreams, and see a brighter day in the morning, isn’t such a bad idea at all. 

This holiday season I will stop indulging in self-pity or complaining and be grateful for all of the good people and things in my life, live each day to the fullest, and try not to become too unhappy about the bad things...they will pass. Learning to fully appreciate each breath we take and smiling until our facial muscles stop hurting and our smile becomes a permanent facial fixture, will only encourage others to follow suit.

So, my appreciation goes out to Irving Berlin’s quick thinking doctor and the fact that Berlin saw and captured the advantages of counting his blessings and was insightful enough to share them with us via his timeless and meaningful song.

Count Your Blessings (Instead Of Sheep)

Irving Berlin

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

So if you're worried and you can't sleep

Count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

Courtesy: GENIUS

Copyright © 2018 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

BLESSINGS

A series of essays.....

MY GREATEST BLESSINGS

.....as seen through my eyes!





By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Blessings...

...come in an arrangement of different sizes, forms, and with a variety of both beneficial, as well as indistinguishable and seemingly negative connotations. A blessing can be given, cloaked within a brilliant disguise, counted innumerable times, and mixed or blended until it breeds something that may have bad effects, in addition to advantages for its intended recipient.

Blessings are small, individual acts of love given to and received gratefully by those who believe that these favors are gifts bestowed by God bringing happiness, approval, or good wishes upon them. Even 'small blessings' themselves are seen as benefits and advantages within this topsy-turvy world we live in and we become most thankful for them as we sift through the alternate possibilities. Having very little money can be seen as a blessing if it, at least, provides enough food on the table for survival.

Blessings often come in disguise as if they were guests at a masked ball, identities denied, yet distinguishable by their ultimate good effects. A 'blessing in disguise' might, initially, appear to be unlucky or bad. But, in actuality, the outcome has been shifted from the initial fear to something we might become eternally grateful for. A set of solemn circumstances, such as running late for work and losing a current job, could initiate a more interesting or profitable new job in the future.

The soothing words of the talented lyricist, Irving Berlin, would have us all "counting our blessings instead of sheep!" And, why not when all is right with the world while falling asleep counting our blessings instead of our worries? Beating the odds by surviving what could have been a tragedy and having us then realize our good luck is certainly grounds for counting one's blessings! When the consequences of hard work and planning fall short of our expectations, it's important to take note of other incredible things that have happened to us. This may just be the most important antidote to sadness the world has ever know!

Early explorers of our vast world, fearful of the unknown, would seek the blessings of the King, Queen, or highest ranked clergy by having them invoke a higher power for assistance, support, and inspiration before beginning their long journey by land or sea.

Beauty can be a mixed blessing. The attention received by a person of renowned physical beauty may only be a superficial blessing if others are less likely to take him or her seriously. We humans are often caught somewhere between that which is favorable and sailing adrift upon a sea dotted by active mines, disadvantageous features that we must learn to navigate around in order to survive. Many scientists proclaimed that discovering the power of the atom was a mixed blessing. Even as it opened our world to the positive aspects of nuclear power, it also made nuclear weapons possible.

We incorporate innumerable blessings every day of our lives, whether we choose to recognize them as such or not. It may be in the form of a short prayer of thanksgiving said before a meal; enjoying the blessings of peace or prosperity; the devout invocation of blessedness bestowed upon us by a priest during the benediction of a mass; loving permission to go, proceed, or carry on in full agreement with the ideas of another, or being touched by the help or services offered to us out of the kindness and good fortune of others.

As grandparents, we consider our grandchildren to be among our greatest blessings. When we are able to travel and explore other cultures and languages, we become blessed by our newly attained knowledge and may choose to share it with others upon returning home. Recognizing are own personal talent and being able to utilize it in order to assist, please, or offer a brighter life to someone else is a blessing we should all strive for. Good friends....a gift never to be taken lightly and a blessing for life.

The blessings and good wishes bestowed upon us through the kindness of others should be cherished and returned in favor by us to others who require them. When we are blessed enough to be able to understand our own bounty and good fortune and share it with those experiencing misfortune, we will have attained the full benefits of a truly blessed life.

Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved