There are several moments in my life where others have given me her/his blessing. The scripted events have faded with time. In contrast, the unscripted and unexpected moments when I have been metaphorically empowered and ordained continue to shape my ways of seeing life, influence my response and the way that I learn.
To the individuals that have gifted me with a new way of seeing myself and my life, thank-you. Your insights and gifts continue to work magic. They have become an inheritance from our friendship, a blessing that keeps gifting me with new ways of seeing, understanding, and engaging with others.
The reminders of their blessings show up from time to time, reinforcing the wonder, beauty, and hope that comes when we recognize the gifts in each other. When I follow their example, I find myself embracing the following.
Taking the time to recognize and share what we recognize in the lives of others with the individual is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. It is easy, almost natural, to share the negative. As useful as knowing one’s faults can be, being affirmed is even more important. It is an injection of hope. It is a moment of forgiveness and empowerment. It is a time where we are invited to be fully in the present.
In hearing another’s blessing, we rediscover the parts of our lives that we should focus on and replicate more often. What I think is important and what others value can be very different. Being blessed reminds of what is useful in the lives of those around me. The blessing opens a door to engage with others in ways that they find helpful and useful.
Remembering the blessings in our lives, gifts of affirmation, invitations of beauty, and doors of compassions and forgiveness, we rediscover our present and future. The Psalmist left us with a blessing, “Namely, ‘I [Divinity] give you the land. Canaan is your hill-country inheritance.’” (Psalm 105.11)
I hope I use the freely given blessings today to make the world a better place.
