Counting Blessings in Hard Places

It was not my best day.   It was not in "my control."  It was not my best "I'm going to be thankful in every circumstance" effort to see God's face in every direction of my life.

Granted, moving is hard work; remodeling before moving is hard work; keeping stress down to a minimum for both my husband and myself is hard work.  The best laid plans of mice and men - that sort of thing, you know?  And did I mention the hour and 40 minute drive back and forth to coordinate, choose, clean, solve or mediate between different laborers?  The seemingly endless miles of traveling, knowing there is umpteen hundred things I could be doing at home, like sorting, packing, throwing out,  cleaning out - and maybe even do a little office work inbetween? 

Oh, the pity party is just getting started!  With mind racing, and the clock ticking slowly in the wee hours of the morning, with spur-riddled spine speaking to me with each turn, I yearn for that meditative hour of simply being, of thankfulness, of oneness, of joy, of contentment.  How do I count my blessings always?  I read I Thess. 5:16-18:

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

There it is, one little word..."in".  In all circumstances, not for all circumstances.  Okay, I get that, I can do that.  But before my resentful anger and discontent rise to the surface, can I respond with thanks instead of such loud thoughts and words?  Can I look at upheavals and annoyances and see grace and gifts of blessings instead?

I have come to think that counting your blessings in all circumstances must come with practice.  Practice being thankful first.  Choose being thankful first.  Because everything is a choice...every word, every action...every thought?  Yes.  I choose to seek His will; I choose to align my thoughts with His; and I choose joy, contentment and thankfulness. 

Practice.  I'm going to pray and practice.