Be Blessed To Be a Blessing


          Last night Dan and I were so excited to get to spend time with some very dear friends of ours.  It’s been the first time we’ve gotten to see them since we’ve moved.  No names are needed.  They know who they are.  This couple was originally from Ohio, we met them in FL, and they moved several years ago back to Ohio. It’s a friendship that in my mind has gone from just friends to more like family.  It was so nice to get to see them.  They were such a blessing to us.  We agreed to go to a movie with them.  They not only bought out ticket, but they kept insisting on blessing us with popcorn, soda, etc. It certainly wasn’t expected, but it was an act of generosity that left Dan and I feeling so blessed. We’ve had such a big transition the last few months in our lives.  We were just glad to get to spend time with them. 
I began to think this morning how little acts of kindness that may seem so small to some, can really be such blessings to others.  I started to think about the “pay it forward" concept.  Just recently I saw online where someone had noticed a car in a parking lot that needed tires, so this anonymous person paid for the tires, and left a receipt on the car.  Beside the receipt was a note telling them where to go to pick up the tires and said donor had also paid the shop to put them on the car.   I can list story after story that I’ve both blessed people and received blessings from others.  Sometimes the smallest things can leave life changing lasting impressions on people.
The Bible tells us that we need to live our lives generously.

2 Corinthians 9: 11(ESV) 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

           
This doesn’t mean that we never have anything that God has blessed us with ourselves.   This just means that we look for times to be a blessing to those around us.  It means that we look beyond ourselves to see how we can bless others.  When we do this it’s amazing how we begin to realize that life isn’t all about ourselves.  I first remember hearing the term ‘Blessed to be a Blessing’ from visiting Legacy Life Church in Orlando, FL.  But it’s a fitting statement here.  May we all learn to live our lives in such a way that we are realize that we are ‘blessed to be a blessing’ to others.  May we all be reminded that life isn’t all about us.  May we remember we are blessed to be a blessing.  I want to challenge all of you, myself included, to think of something you can do to bless someone around you.  It doesn’t have to be a big thing with money involved.  It can be as simple as washing someone’s car, helping an overwhelmed mother to take her groceries to her car, or being a listening ear to a friend.  I challenge all of you to remember that you have been so blessed to be a blessing to others.  Remember that you may be the only ‘Jesus’ that many will meet.  As St. Francis of Assisi said, “"Preach the gospel. Use words if necessary."
God has awesome plans for your life.  Get excited!

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