Count Your Blessings

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a little girl being tucked in bed by dad

Illustrations by Kevin Fales

Jacy stared at the night-light. It was too bright. She couldn’t sleep. She pulled her blanket over her eyes. Now it was too dark! She couldn’t sleep.

Jacy grabbed her teddy bear. It had a little bell inside that made noise. Jacy shook the bear. Ting, ting, ting went the bell. That didn’t help her sleep either.

She was so bored! There was no one to talk to! And it was too quiet and too dark.

Jacy started to cry. She would never fall asleep!

Just then her door opened softly.

“Jacy?”

It was Daddy! He came and sat by her on the bed. “What’s the matter?” Daddy asked.

“It’s too quiet! I can’t sleep. My brain just keeps thinking of things!” Jacy wiped the tears off her cheeks.

Daddy rubbed her back. “Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I sing my favorite song. And then I count my blessings.”

Daddy started singing. He sang, “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God hath done.”

Jacy hummed along. She liked this song too.

“What are some of your blessings?” Daddy asked.

“Um, my teddy bear,” said Jacy. She waved the bear to make the bell jingle.

“That’s a good blessing,” said Daddy. “What else?”

“Daddy!” said Jacy. “Daddy is a blessing.”

That made Daddy smile.

“And Mommy,” said Jacy. “And baby Darel. He’s kind of a blessing.”

Daddy laughed. “How about your warm bed and your night-light?”

Jacy nodded. She was starting to feel sleepy.

Daddy pulled the blanket up to Jacy’s chin. “You are a blessing too, Jacy. I love you.” He gave her a kiss and closed the door behind him.

Jacy hummed the song again. “Count your blessings, count your blessings …”

And soon she was fast asleep.