The nightly news is full of heartbreak, calamity, death, confusion. Sweet William and I feel the weight of tragedy in the world, in our communities, and among our own friends.

Digging a hole and burying our heads sometimes seems a viable option.

On the other hand, this is November, and I remind myself during this month especially to look for the light in the darkness. And so, I write out my blessings.

• My piano students practicing to play difficult Christmas pieces and sounding good.
• Attending Joy Group for the mature in body/young at heart and being welcomed by many.
• Sitting at lunch with Karen and us chatting up a storm.
• A meet-up with Amy at Panera Bread for coffee and a cranberry-orange muffin.
• Lunch with Shirley, her flavorful potato soup, and the encouraging conversation.
• Recital where my students were awesome!
• Laughing and having fun with Helen as we visited a local craft fair.
• Sweet William being sassy and fun, causing me to chuckle.
• Time change and falling forward, enjoying that extra hour I’ve been waiting for since spring.
• My granddaughter’s 17th birthday, pictures on Facebook of her opening the birthday box we sent, and her saying it was just what she wanted.
• Grace to endure the distance and the miles between us.
• K and M coming on their day off from school, talking, playing piano, making crafts, listening to music, them shedding their light all around.
• Early prayer time with Julie who knows the highs and the lows of me like none other and loves me still.
• Sweet Anna here to help me, her bringing her own brand of joy to us.

Life is hard, no doubt. There will always be trouble and problems. I could focus on that while despondency begins to wrap its bone-chilling arms around me.

Or I could pray for those in need, giving them to the God who is strong enough to carry the weight of the world on His shoulders, who knows what each person needs before I try to tell Him, who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all I can ask for or imagine.

Then I am free to count blessings and look for His gifts. Then I can rejoice and be very glad.

Guy Penrod sings Count Your Blessings.