Simple Blessings

Dan Kunz

Back when I used to teach American Literature (shortly after dinosaurs stopped roaming the earth), one writer my class always sampled, was Henry David Thoreau. My favorite quote from his famous book, Walden, is “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.” If Thoreau thought people in the 1800’s were too busy, their lives were too complicated, what would he say today?

For most Americans in 2020, it’s very easy to get so busy that many things get taken for granted. They get pushed to the back burner and then, onto the floor! Now, the pandemic-caused seclusion, for most, has made life much simpler. As suggested by Thoreau, we can keep our lives simple, counting God, family, food, and health, as all we really need. Such simplicity is a true blessing from God. He has given us the blessing of time, and we should take advantage of it and, hopefully, learn from the experience. Many things will probably be different in the future - a simpler life might be one of them!

Not only has the lockdown made life simpler, but it’s also given us time and reason to appreciate the simple things, as well. My daughter brought home cheeseburgers and apples from Kwik Trip the other day and her kids couldn’t stop hugging and thanking her! I’ve seen more couples going for walks together during the past three weeks than I have during the past three years.

More kids are probably talking and playing with their brothers and sisters than usual. Although we can’t be with our grandparents, parents, or older friends physically, we may be more likely to “check in with them” through a phone call, email, or card, than we would normally do. Although some are now without a job and anxious, blessings still exist, and maybe we can be one of those blessing for them.

Two unexpected blessings, simplicity and thankfulness, are God’s way, again, of letting us know that he’s in control and he loves us. A brief glimpse at the Old Testament shows the challenges faced by the children of Israel always brought blessings, too. See the blessing of simplicity and embrace it!

Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind. See the blessing of a thankful heart and embrace it!

Psalm 145:16 You open your hand; and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Enjoy and learn. Jesus is, after all, our Teacher, as well as our Savior!