Ever since our children were young, anytime we dropped them off at school, dance class, or even to stay with their grandparents, my husband and I would kiss their soft cheeks and tell them to “be a blessing.” Sometimes our little darlings would heed our advice and do as we told them to, and other times they could use some improvement as their conduct marks would suggest, but nevertheless they were sent out into the world each day told to be a blessing to their teachers and friends.
The word “blessing” has received a bad reputation these days. It has been misconstrued to mean that because I follow Christ, I am entitled to a life of blessings with no hardships. That is an incorrect way of thinking and it is not what we are talking about here.
We are talking about the fact that because we feel blessed by the Almighty, we in turn become a blessing to others.
A friend of mine was telling of the time she and her family were in the fast food car line and the car in front of them paid for their entire meal. That’s being a blessing!
Or how about when a new mom is stuck indoors caring for her newborn on these cold winter days and she gets a visit and a container of warm soup from a friend? Can’t you just imagine her thankfulness for an hour of adult conversation?
And think of a time when you needed that boost of encouragement and your phone dinged with a text from your loved one just at the right time. Didn’t it feel like a blessing?
You see we are created to be a blessing because we are blessed by God with the gift of salvation. Galatians 3:14 says, “The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
Since we are recipients of Abraham’s blessing, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we in turn desire to bless others. Jesus tells us, “A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” (Luke 6:45). I love how the Message spells it out: It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
Out of the overflow of our hearts…we become a blessing.
Remember how I told you that we encourage our kids to be a blessing? Well, this past year I was unpacking my backpack to begin my day of seminary classes and this note from my oldest daughter fell out.
Her precious, overflowing heart made my eyes spring with tears. What a blessing!
love this! We are a blessed people and in turn should be blessing others. You are a blessing to me 🙂
Thank you, Friend! And you are a blessing to me.
Thanks April for these important words of encouragement…. You are truly a blessing!!!
Thank you, Lory!
Wow! I love it!! I am definitely going to to start using this concept with my children when I drop them off anywhere. They know they were put on this earth to be a blessing, but what an awesome way to remind them when they are “going out into the world” . Thanks for sharing April.
Thank you, Gaylon! I appreciate you!