Dear Harpeth Hills Family,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Eph. 1:3

I have a friend from work whom I’ve known for nearly 20 years. Every time anyone else asks him, “How are you doing?” he simply replies, “Couldn’t be better!” Every. Single. Time.

His reply became sort of a joke with some of us. We assumed it was just a flippant reply, like “better than I deserve,” or “if I were any better, I’d have to be twins.” And frankly, there were times that we knew that he could be better. Family illness. Children’s struggles. Stress at work. These things hit him like they hit all of us. But still his answer was the same. “Couldn’t be better!”

One day I asked him about it, and I learned that far from a flippant reply, it was a conscious choice. A lifestyle decision. A testimony to the Father.

He couldn’t be better, because he was blessed beyond measure. A loving wife. Wonderful children and grandchildren. A roof over his head and a job to go to every day. All of those were true. But more than that, he was a child of God. He couldn’t be better, because the Father had already blessed him more than he could ever ask or imagine.

Sometimes I forget just how blessed I am. I forget that “the Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need…”

There are times that I just need to list them. The old hymn credited to Johnson Oatman, Jr. is a good reminder:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God hath done
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count you many blessings, see what God hath done.

I, too, have a loving wife and wonderful children. A roof over my head and a job to go to every day. Good health and good friends. A wonderful church family. But, more importantly, I am more blessed than I can ever ask or imagine. I am redeemed. I am blessed. I am a joint heir with Christ. I am a child of God.

So, how are we doing?

Couldn’t be better!

We love you.

-Your Shepherds