Baskets of Blessings

* Blessed are all who fear the Lord, * * who walk in obedience to Him. *

* You will eat the fruit of your labor; * * blessings and prosperity will be yours. *

* Psalm 128:1-2 *

---

Author and speaker Karen O’Connor encourages her listeners to collect baskets full of blessings! For several years, Karen has followed this delightful practice and she wants others to benefit from this blessing too.

Beside her nightstand, Karen keeps a basket she has decorated with flowers and ribbon. Next to the basket she keeps some pretty paper that she has cut into small squares. Each night as part of her evening devotion, Karen writes a brief account of a special blessing she received that day from God’s gracious hand. She dates each slip and includes enough of a description so that she will be able to remember the unexpected grace-gift received when she rereads the words.

Along with the brief description, Karen lists why this event was so special to her.

• Today I was depressed and discouraged and in need of encouragement, and the mailman brought a note a dear friend.

• I was weary and the beautiful sunrise reminded me that God’s mercies are fresh every morning.

• The little bird singing outside my window this morning reminded me that God’s mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness is great.

Then, once a month—and more often if life presents her with days that are stormy and dark, Karen empties the basket onto her bed and reads each precious account of the specific ways that God has blessed her. In so doing, she is reminded of God’s faithfulness and love, and is filled with joy in the recollection of the great things God has done in her life.

Each day brings so many wonderful things from God’s hand—things that slip from our memory on dreary days when we are tempted to fall back into depression and defeat. Like Karen, we can benefit from writing about our daily blessings, rereading them often, and recalling God’s faithfulness and love. Perhaps God’s love came through a friend or loved one, perhaps it was a sunrise or sunset—or the first rose blooming in the spring. Maybe it was a time when we were tempted and God provided a way out, or when we were given added strength to face a difficult trial. When we tell ourselves the story, we are built up in our faith—and we become our own encouragers.

Give yourself a gift today! Find an empty basket, cut some squares of paper and begin to keep a basket full of blessings. Keeping a basket full of blessings reminds us of God’s unwavering faithfulness and love. Today I pray we will all be reminded, and rejoice, in God’s goodness, compassion, mercy, and love as we collect basketsful of blessings!

God’s presence is not discerned at the time when it is upon us,

but afterwards, when we look back.

~~John Henry Newman

---

A Question to Ponder: “Each day brings so many wonderful things from God’s hand—things that slip from our memory on dreary days when we are tempted to fall back into depression and defeat.” Ponder the great things has God done for you in the calendar square called today.

A Prayer to Offer: Thank you, loving Lord, for your goodness to me. Each day is filled with bite-sized blessings and simple pleasures—tokens of your love and faithfulness. How often I miss these simple pleasures when I am caught up in the busyness of the world around me. How often I fail to remember your many blessings when storm clouds gather and my life is dark and dreary. Yet you are the same, whether the sun is bright or clouds obscure my view. You are love and all you do is loving. You are good and all you do is good. Help me to see your grace-filled guidance and tender-mercies, even in times of adversity. Forgive me for the many times I have failed to thank you for all the good things you have done for me. Forgive me for forgetting your steadfast, faithful love and allowing myself to fall into defeat and despair. Help me this day, and always, to refresh myself in you by pondering what the Almighty has done in my life—and then declaring your goodness and grace to others struggling with depression and despair. You are the fount of every blessing, the giver of every good gift. Thank you for encouraging me to remember your blessings—and to be thankful both as I write them down and as I reread them. Amen.

An Action Step to Take: Give yourself a gift! Be a keeper of a basket full of blessings!

---

I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:1-2