Take a Moment to 'Count Your Blessings'
2023-11-26
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1Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.
2There are certain times of the year when we stop and think about all the things that make us happy or bring us joy.
3Some people even make a list of these things.
4In English, we have a saying for this: to count your blessings.
5When we count our blessings, we note all the wonderful things in our lives.
6This helps us to appreciate how good life is.
7Thanksgiving is a time when many Americans count their blessings.
8The United States observes this holiday on the fourth Thursday in November.
9Counting your blessings is important.
10It shows that you are grateful.
11Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or thanks.
12When people count their blessings, they can say it like this: "I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for my health."
13It is better to be grateful for our blessings than to take them for granted.
14When we take something for granted, we do not appreciate it.
15Sometimes we are not appreciative of our good fortune and blessings until they are gone.
16But now, let's take a step back. What exactly is a blessing?
17In English, the word "blessing" has at least two meanings.
18As we said, a blessing is something that brings you happiness or helps you.
19To religious people, a blessing is approval and help from a higher source -- God.
20A blessing can also be a sign of approval.
21It gives you permission to do something.
22For example, a traditional marriage custom involves a blessing.
23If a young man wants to marry a young woman, he may want to first get her family's blessing.
24Now, when we want to show our recognition of all the little things that prove helpful, we sometimes say "give thanks for small blessings."
25We often say this expression in the middle of a troubling or difficult time.
26So, let's say a friend of yours is angry about a flat tire on his car.
27But then he stops and thinks for a minute and says, "Well, at least I have a car. I should count myself lucky and give thanks for small blessings."
28Now, not all blessings are simple and easy to recognize.
29Some are more complex than others.
30That brings us to the expression "mixed blessing."
31A mixed blessing is something that is both good and bad.
32For example, being really beautiful can be a mixed blessing.
33On one hand, you look great and may be treated really well by some people.
34On the other hand, you look great and may be treated badly by other people.
35So, when we use this expression, we often use the terms "on one hand" and "on the other hand."
36Here is another blessing expression. It is a little more complicated: a blessing in disguise.
37First of all, a disguise hides something that you do not want seen or noticed.
38For example, a secret agent might wear a disguise to hide her identity.
39Or a bottle of perfume might disguise an unpleasant smell.
40So, a blessing in disguise is a bad event or situation.
41But the outcome or result is actually good.
42Here's how to use the expression blessing in disguise.
43So how was your high school reunion?
44Oh, I got sick and couldn't go.
45Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
46Actually, it was a blessing in disguise. It turns out my two best friends from high school couldn't go either. So, we're going to take another trip together next month.
47That sounds like even more fun.
48It will be! They are the only people I wanted to see anyway.
49Hey, how's everything going? I haven't seen you in a while.
50Things are great! For starters, I got fired last month.
51Oh. Sorry. So, why are things great? Getting fired is terrible.
52Well, yes. But this time it was truly a blessing in disguise.
53You see, after I was fired I found a new job -- a better job that I really love. And it pays more.
54Good for you! I'm glad you're able to count your blessings!
55And that's all the time we have this week for Words and Their Stories.
56Now it's time for you to "count your blessings."
57What are you thankful for? You can tell us in the Comments Section.
58Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
59When I am worried and I can't sleep
60I count my blessings instead of sheep
61And I fall asleep counting my blessings...
1Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. 2There are certain times of the year when we stop and think about all the things that make us happy or bring us joy. Some people even make a list of these things. In English, we have a saying for this: to count your blessings. 3When we count our blessings, we note all the wonderful things in our lives. This helps us to appreciate how good life is. 4Thanksgiving is a time when many Americans count their blessings. The United States observes this holiday on the fourth Thursday in November. 5Counting your blessings is important. It shows that you are grateful. Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or thanks. When people count their blessings, they can say it like this: "I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for my health." 6It is better to be grateful for our blessings than to take them for granted. When we take something for granted, we do not appreciate it. Sometimes we are not appreciative of our good fortune and blessings until they are gone. 7But now, let's take a step back. What exactly is a blessing? 8In English, the word "blessing" has at least two meanings. As we said, a blessing is something that brings you happiness or helps you. To religious people, a blessing is approval and help from a higher source -- God. 9A blessing can also be a sign of approval. It gives you permission to do something. For example, a traditional marriage custom involves a blessing. If a young man wants to marry a young woman, he may want to first get her family's blessing. 10Give thanks for small blessings 11Now, when we want to show our recognition of all the little things that prove helpful, we sometimes say "give thanks for small blessings." We often say this expression in the middle of a troubling or difficult time. 12So, let's say a friend of yours is angry about a flat tire on his car. But then he stops and thinks for a minute and says, "Well, at least I have a car. I should count myself lucky and give thanks for small blessings." 13Now, not all blessings are simple and easy to recognize. Some are more complex than others. That brings us to the expression "mixed blessing." 14Mixed blessing 15A mixed blessing is something that is both good and bad. For example, being really beautiful can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, you look great and may be treated really well by some people. On the other hand, you look great and may be treated badly by other people. So, when we use this expression, we often use the terms "on one hand" and "on the other hand." 16Blessing in disguise 17Here is another blessing expression. It is a little more complicated: a blessing in disguise. 18First of all, a disguise hides something that you do not want seen or noticed. For example, a secret agent might wear a disguise to hide her identity. Or a bottle of perfume might disguise an unpleasant smell. 19So, a blessing in disguise is a bad event or situation. But the outcome or result is actually good. 20Here's how to use the expression blessing in disguise. 21So how was your high school reunion? 22Oh, I got sick and couldn't go. 23Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. 24Actually, it was a blessing in disguise. It turns out my two best friends from high school couldn't go either. So, we're going to take another trip together next month. 25That sounds like even more fun. 26It will be! They are the only people I wanted to see anyway. 27Hey, how's everything going? I haven't seen you in a while. 28Things are great! For starters, I got fired last month. 29Oh. Sorry. So, why are things great? Getting fired is terrible. 30Well, yes. But this time it was truly a blessing in disguise. You see, after I was fired I found a new job -- a better job that I really love. And it pays more. 31Good for you! I'm glad you're able to count your blessings! 32And that's all the time we have this week for Words and Their Stories. 33Now it's time for you to "count your blessings." What are you thankful for? You can tell us in the Comments Section. 34Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 35When I am worried and I can't sleep 36I count my blessings instead of sheep 37And I fall asleep counting my blessings... 38Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. The song at the end is "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) sung by Krista Branch. 39______________________________________________________________ 40Words in This Story 41appreciate - v. to understand the worth or importance of (something or someone) : to admire and value (something or someone) : to be grateful for (something) 42grateful - adj. feeling or showing thanks : feeling or showing thanks to someone for some helpful act 43gratitude - n. the state of being grateful 44take them for granted - expression to never think about something because you believe it will always be available or stay exactly the same 45source - n. a cause or starting point 46tire - n. a rubber cushion that usually contains compressed air and fits around a wheel (as of an automobile 47perfume - n. a substance that emits a pleasant odor 48reunion - n. an organized gathering of people who have not been together for some time 49fired - adj. dismissed from a job