Magnify Blessings

“What a different world this would be if people would magnify their blessings the way they do their troubles.”
—Unknown

If we could only trumpet our blessings the same way we whine and moan about what’s wrong in our lives what a difference it could make in the world.

Often blessings come in ways that we do not think about. A perfectly timed call from a friend; praise for something we’ve done; an unexpected chance to spend time with someone we love; avoiding a wreck as we rush around from one place to another in our vehicles.

We are blessings to the world when we buy gifts or provide for the needs of the underprivileged; when we forego a meal out or some other luxury to help another; at those times when we say “I love you” just because we do, even though sometimes it’s hard to say; and when we forgive the person who seems the most unforgivable.

Life offers us many ways to give and receive. Both are important and necessary for our well-being.

Sometimes people think that they have to be the best at something to be a blessing; that they have to do a great thing. But many times blessings come in imperfect packages.

During a memorial service for a woman who played the guitar and wrote songs, a 12-year-old boy whom she had inspired and taught a few guitar tricks to got up in front of the whole church and played one of her songs while he also sang the lyrics. No, it was not perfectly done, in all honesty it wasn’t really all that great, but all who knew her were blessed that her song had been performed.

For those who knew what it took for this boy to do what he did, there was even a bigger blessing; a lesson in putting others first even if we have fear or heavy grief. He showed a love that many of us aspire to, but never reach because we are too busy trying to one up the other guy by doing something bigger and better when all we really have to do is that thing we are led to do without fanfare.

Blessings surround you and they are within you. You must be open to receive and give them or you miss out.