Dear Friends,This week, I'd like to "open the gate" and invite you to post a comment about blessings. Share your favorite blessing, or write one of your own. Maybe you have an anecdote about being blessed or receiving a special blessing. No matter what you select, should you wish to contribute, try to post your response by next Sunday.
A note about posting: my understanding is that you do not need to set up a new "google" e-mail account in order to post. Using your pre-established e-mail address should suffice. The password you use, of course, is up to you.
I'd like to share a blessing given to me by my unparagoned college professor and friend just before I left. (Thanks, Karen.)
Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you.
-A Pueblo Blessing
Be blessed this week!
Yours,
Tim
8 comments:
Tim...blessings come in the perspective of which they are seen. When we are caught in the depths of despair, a blessing can be a touch, a tear, a moment of shared sadness, or the smile of a sweet little boy; when a blessing comes in the height of joy, we are taken even higher because the joy is shared...with another person, an emotion of memory, or maybe it's God that reminds us that he,too, shares and even "creates" the moment when we look upward or inward with thankfulness beyond words. I have felt the blessing of great friendship and love when the tear is shared, a hand grabs mine, the memory of a loving hug and "thanks" from my boys...when someone risks their comfort to make a loving gesture. But of course, the blessing can be ours when we do exactly what we have received from others. Blessings come in so many forms, but they always enrich our souls; sometimes in ways we don't even know.
P.S.
We miss you, Tim, of that we're sure;
But Latvians are blessed with you now;
So continue your teaching and inspiring words,
We'll try to remember the blessings "somehow".
When you're thinking and praying and changing lives,
Just know that we can't wait for next spring,
To welcome you back to hear all your stories,
And the "blessings" that we know you will bring.
Serenity....
My occupation as a country banker offers me many first's. We are the first to know of a divorce (one of them cleans out the deposit accounts) the first to know of illness (concerns for making loan payments loss of income) the first to know of death (second only to the funeral home)and the list goes on.
There has not been a day in 24 years in this business, that I have taken my blessings for granted. My job is not about loaning money or managing assets. It is about community. It is about needs.
Tim, as you experience Latvia, a different community with different needs I know you will find many common bonds with the life you know in Illinois. These bonds will aways hindge on kindness, caring and faith.
God Bless you and those you meet Ambassador Tim.
My short list-
*Faith- God proves time and time again that He is my Good Shepherd. Year after year, He answers my prayers with "Yes"; "Wait"; or "I Have Something Better Than That Ahead"
*Family
*Meaningful Relationships
*Serendipitous Moments with Others- Connecting
*My job is perfect for me
*My education & opportunities for growing each year
"The better part of a man's life consists of his friendships."
A. Lincoln.
And I am so blessed by mine...though separated momentarily by oceans.
Thought of a couple more -
~these people (as opposed to these people)
~this blog-inspiring me and reminding me of the importance of positive cross cultural communication and experiences no matter where we encounter them; we all have them every day!(Diplomacy by definition-skill in managing communication and relationships between nations)
As Nancy indicated, perspective defines blessing. Many overlook everyday blessings and they walk in a darker world than those of us to attempt to take the time to acknowledge our blessings. Many of us indicate health, home, family as blessings but often we (I) forget to remember that salvation is our most important blessing. And, if a word study is done, salvation blankets health, life, forgiveness, peace, grace, joy and other blessings we often forget. Sometimes blessings are disguised as trials and we overlook the significance of the blessing until it is already passed. "Rejoice in whatsoever state you find yourself" -- even in Latvia. :) And remember this phrase, 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace
of God will not protect you' What a blessing!
Tim, You have such prolific bloggers! First thought that came to my mind....
The hymn-"Count your blessings, Name them one by one; Count your many blessings, See what God hath done....etc" Now I can't get it our of my head..looked it up in an old Youth Hymnal.. and have been playing and singing it thinking of you.
Just to be is a blessing.
"For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude." Clarence Hodges
This is a good one, I've always thought...
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
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