By Kevin Foster
In a society that has us counting calories, steps, pounds, and money, it’s time for folks to set a reminder for themselves to take a few minutes each day and appreciate what blessings are in our lives no matter how big or how small they are. Granted, life has its ups and downs where there are days when it’s hard for us to see our blessings, but they are there if we just look for them.
Day-to-day I see so many people getting caught up in the daily hustle and grind, that it becomes a habit of waking up, getting to work, racing home, making dinner, going to sleep, and doing it again and again for the rest of the week. We get going and going and forget to take some alone time to think about life; either where we’ve come from to where we are now, or where we are at the moment and where we’re headed. For example, one of my biggest regrets when I was younger, and my kids were young, was spending most of my time commuting and working so much. Now that I reflect back, I count the few blessings remembering the wonderful times with my children, fishing, boating, trips to the zoo, and teaching them woodworking, to name a few. My regret is that I should have spent almost every weekend doing things like that instead of just a few here and there.
The seed I’m hoping to plant in y’all is now that my kids are all in their 30s and I reflect back, I wish there were thousands of those blessings that would fill my memories. So don’t let the daily grind get so busy you lose sight of the most important blessings. Making time for family and loved ones to make wonderful memories, because when we get old, those become our most cherished possessions that we can never lose.
Not all blessings come in the form of family and memories. Some blessings are the wonderful neighbor that you build a wonderful relationship with, who checks on you and is always there if you need them and vice versa. Or your pet that’s always happy to see you and is always there to lend an ear and share happiness and sadness. A big blessing I’ve witnessed recently is a community that hundreds of residents have focused on in different ways to help others, whether it’s in small or big ways. A huge blessing over the years has been social media. If used correctly it’s a way for an individual to help another or many either by gifting, giving or donating time, money or possessions, or just offering a hand if needed or advice . With Covid this year, it seems to be folks’ main source of communication to share blessings and information and to see blessings happening throughout our community. A lot of the time it inspires others to be a blessing.
I got an ol’ saying that’s grown on me over the years “If you can’t find a blessing, be one”. What I have learned over time is, when the path of life gets bumpy, if I try to find a way to be a blessing, the next thing I know, blessings are coming back my way. Overtime I’ve learned that the blessing snowball effect keeps getting bigger and bigger, the blessings are more frequent and the path of life smoothes right out.
My all-time favorite is “Be A Blessing”. Just being a blessing helps make each day stress-free and brings a wonderful calmness to one’s everyday life. It could mean letting the person in the grocery store with only a couple items cut in front of you. Stop in short driving to let a person cut in line in traffic. Offering a kind word to a stranger at the market or to your server. Sending a compliment to the person pumping gas next to you. Sharing a big old smile and just askin’ how someone’s day is. When you see someone needing a hand don’t wait for them to ask for help, offer help. Paying for the person’s meal behind you in the drive-through or for their coffee. Knocking on that elderly neighbor’s door and asking them if they need a hand with anything. Sometimes the smallest kind gestures can be the biggest blessings to others.
With the mindset of tackling each day with making an effort to be a blessing, it not only makes the world a better place it also inspires others to do the same.
So remember to always find some quiet time to count your blessings.
Always try to be a blessing.
And if you can’t find a blessing, find a way to be one.