This Christmas: “Count Your Blessings”

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We all worry — probably too much.  We worry about finances, we worry about weather, we worry about our children.  Trust me, I think everybody worries a lot — like I said, probably too much.

Over the past week I’ve had a couple of experiences that have made me want to count my blessings — including the blessing of being a funeral director and serving those who mourn.

First of all, Angie and I attended for about the 4th time in our almost 40 years of marriage, the Holiday classic musical “White Christmas”.  One of the songs in that musical which dates back to the original 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name is titled “Count Your Blessings”.  And since we attended the play I can’t get the music and lyrics out of my head.  So that is one of the reasons I’m on this “count my blessings” theme.

To see and hear the original “Count Your Blessings” song performed by Bing Crosby from the 1954 musical “White Christmas” click here

And then last week, I encountered a 91-year old man, Gene, at the dental office waiting room.  I had not seen this man for a long time but he has farmed a small farm outside of our community and was a faithful member of one of the rural Catholic churches.  I went to school with one of his son’s, Mike, and in my first year of work back in 1981, I helped him in memorializing and burying his other son, Jeff, who died in an automobile accident on his graduation night.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Things have changed in our small town since that vehicle accident.  We’ve grown from a small community of about 6,000 residents to a much more suburban community of about 40,000.  There’s a lot of new people here and I think for a 91-year old widower life is really different and somewhat lonely.

What was uplifting to me was that as soon as he recognized me he formed a big smile.  I think he was excited to see someone he knew.  I don’t think that happens very often for him in our community any more.

I asked about Mike and how he was doing. . . .and, I told him I was old enough to remember Jeff, too.  He said, “I know. . . you helped us with the funeral.”  And, he continued by saying, “That will be 45 years ago next summer”.

I still have a hard time understanding family member clientele and how much they appreciate those that take care of their loved ones while we are “just doing our jobs”.  I simply continue to “Count My Blessings” that I was able to work in a profession where we have the ability to help people so much.

If you have worked on the front lines of funeral service like I did. . . .you know what I’m talking about.  The ability we have to “Make a Difference” in the lives of those we serve is incredible and becomes a “Blessing” of the job.  Don’t take it lightly.

So, this Holiday Season, don’t let worry get you down.  Remember to “Count Your Blessings” of family, freedom, opportunity, faith, finances, health. . . . and, your ability to work in a funeral service profession!!!

God Bless from Funeral Director Daily and enjoy the Holiday Season!!!!

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”