In 1927, Babe Ruth, the famous home run hitter, began to cut a notch into his bat each time he hit a home run. He went on to hit a record 60 home runs that season. He said he cut the notches as a "kid" or "joke", but as the season went on and the notches grew in number, it became more special.

Some of the other players began to show a kind of reverence for the sluggers' notched bat. Instead of using the bat, they reserved it just for "the Babe". Each notch was a special reminder of one of his home runs as the count grew higher.

We may not put notches in a baseball bat but we keep remembering the blessings the Lord pours out into our lives each day. The reminders are notched into our hearts. We often sing, "Count your many blessings, see what God has done."

As we identify and remember them, we are given a deeper appreciation of God's loving care. Our faith is built up to face new challenges because counting our blessings reminds us that the Lord is currently active in our daily life. In counting them we are reminded we can count on Him.

He has blessed us in the past and His nature will not change. He will bless us today and on into our future. Each blessing is a gift of God. He loves us and is good to us.

We are taught "in everything give thanks: for this is God's will in Christ Jesus for you" 1 Thess. 5:18, and "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created" James 1:17-18.

Pastor Greg Brownell,

Dayton United Brethren Church