Counting Blessings

God morning Oneness_is_us,

Between the low hum of excitement in my belly at having set myself free of the nicotine addiction and the thought of having created a blog, I am up early with all my bells and whistles ready and raring to go. Three days ago I could barely think in terms of one blog, and now I can see the need for a couple.

A few years ago I thought people who spent time in online chat rooms needed to get a life. Then I spent a couple of years visiting in a few and met some wonderful like hearted people. Once I thought it was pretentious of people to think their thoughts and feelings warranted posting in a public space like a blog. That goes to show me, and probably not for once and for all, that growth is about going to places that are unfathomable until you need to be there.

Over the years I have found myself counting my blessings to the cadence of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee” with a few words changed to suit the purpose. I was fascinated with only this poem as a child. I don’t have the poem memorized, so I’ve found us a copy to share.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s fath.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”