One of my best friends declares a word for each year. For example one year it was 'wonder'. It is usually something she spendings time praying about and listening to God for. My #blessed challenge has become my version of declaring a word for a period of time.
I began this challenge because I find myself from time to time walking away from a situation or ending my day thinking of how truly 'blessed' I am. And other times I am so caught up in my stress and all the busy minutes of life I miss those moments. However, there are events like today's #blessed moment(s) when you are hit in the face with the blessings of your life; when the word 'blessed' is literally verbally spoken.
It was another manic monday... oh wait it's thursday... another crazy week where I feel like I am working to the end of my limits to stay afloat with waves crashing in from all sides. Continuing to make 'lists' upon to-do lists. But today, I broke down and let the enemy win my exhausted battle. In that moment of defeat however, there was a light at the end of the tunnel- someone to stand behind me continuing to fight for me and speak truth into my darkness- reminding me that this life I live is not my own and I was created for greatness. That I am loved even in my imperfections. Not only did this person have my back, she called out the lies I was letting run wild. I've learned it is in some of our lowest moments when there isn't much else to grasp onto that we are able to experience God's grace more fully. As I was a tearful puddle in the embrace of my comrade, who spoke directly to my heart, reminding me to 'not forget how blessed I am that the Lord brings greatness even in our weakness', I was washed over with a settling peace. My troubles did not disappear and my angst about my lists did not dissolve but I knew in that moment that the grace of God was enough.
But the holy spirit did not stop there. I was reminded again of the #blessed life I live, and how even when I feel inadequate and incapable of my own struggles I am able to comfort another's. I was leaving work, heading straight for my car with my phone to my ear, letting the amount of work I had to accomplish tonight soak in with a deep sigh. Completely enveloped in my own hole full of struggles when I walked past a woman sitting on one of the benches outside the hospital. I gave a quick smirk to which I was replied with a slight raise of the corner of her mouth. But what caught me off guard was the stream of tears that ran down her cheeks. At first I continued to walk, thinking 'what did I have to give this woman?'- I was a mess myself. I made it about halfway to my car before I pivoted in my stride and made my way back to her. I knew I needed people in my moments of loss and defeat, even earlier that day, and how much it meant to simply have someone stop and ask if there was anything they could do. So, that is exactly what I did. I walked up and sat down next to her saying 'I'm sorry I couldn't walk away leaving you crying on a bench. Are you okay? and is there anything I can do to help?' a million things raced through my head- she could have lost her husband or a child, then what would I say?... The moment I finished my short apologetic offer tears began to stream down her cheeks as she held her tissue to the bridge of her nose. She explained her husband was in open heart surgery and her daughter and son-in-law were inside. She had simply come out to get some air and that she didn't need anything but was thankful for my offer. I rubbed her back and soothed this woman, whose name I didn't even know. As she leaned in to hug me and I said the words I always think in my head, but rarely left slip off my tongue without thinking, "can I pray for you right now?". She shook her head yes as she silently sobbed. I prayed a simple prayer of peace over her and her daughter who had arrived at the scene and for provision during her husbands surgery and recovery. It wasn't an earth shattering prayer. But with my amen she turned to me and said how much of a blessing I was.
I walked away from the bench thinking how sometimes our #blessed moments in life are not only the things that raise us up, make us feel good or change our lives. Sometimes the #blessed moments come from being the blessing, in making even the smallest difference in someone else's. I was able to have experience both #blessed moments today and was able to pray it forward.
May you always be the blessings and forever be blessed.
{30 days of being #blessed}
I began this challenge because I find myself from time to time walking away from a situation or ending my day thinking of how truly 'blessed' I am. And other times I am so caught up in my stress and all the busy minutes of life I miss those moments. However, there are events like today's #blessed moment(s) when you are hit in the face with the blessings of your life; when the word 'blessed' is literally verbally spoken.
It was another manic monday... oh wait it's thursday... another crazy week where I feel like I am working to the end of my limits to stay afloat with waves crashing in from all sides. Continuing to make 'lists' upon to-do lists. But today, I broke down and let the enemy win my exhausted battle. In that moment of defeat however, there was a light at the end of the tunnel- someone to stand behind me continuing to fight for me and speak truth into my darkness- reminding me that this life I live is not my own and I was created for greatness. That I am loved even in my imperfections. Not only did this person have my back, she called out the lies I was letting run wild. I've learned it is in some of our lowest moments when there isn't much else to grasp onto that we are able to experience God's grace more fully. As I was a tearful puddle in the embrace of my comrade, who spoke directly to my heart, reminding me to 'not forget how blessed I am that the Lord brings greatness even in our weakness', I was washed over with a settling peace. My troubles did not disappear and my angst about my lists did not dissolve but I knew in that moment that the grace of God was enough.
But the holy spirit did not stop there. I was reminded again of the #blessed life I live, and how even when I feel inadequate and incapable of my own struggles I am able to comfort another's. I was leaving work, heading straight for my car with my phone to my ear, letting the amount of work I had to accomplish tonight soak in with a deep sigh. Completely enveloped in my own hole full of struggles when I walked past a woman sitting on one of the benches outside the hospital. I gave a quick smirk to which I was replied with a slight raise of the corner of her mouth. But what caught me off guard was the stream of tears that ran down her cheeks. At first I continued to walk, thinking 'what did I have to give this woman?'- I was a mess myself. I made it about halfway to my car before I pivoted in my stride and made my way back to her. I knew I needed people in my moments of loss and defeat, even earlier that day, and how much it meant to simply have someone stop and ask if there was anything they could do. So, that is exactly what I did. I walked up and sat down next to her saying 'I'm sorry I couldn't walk away leaving you crying on a bench. Are you okay? and is there anything I can do to help?' a million things raced through my head- she could have lost her husband or a child, then what would I say?... The moment I finished my short apologetic offer tears began to stream down her cheeks as she held her tissue to the bridge of her nose. She explained her husband was in open heart surgery and her daughter and son-in-law were inside. She had simply come out to get some air and that she didn't need anything but was thankful for my offer. I rubbed her back and soothed this woman, whose name I didn't even know. As she leaned in to hug me and I said the words I always think in my head, but rarely left slip off my tongue without thinking, "can I pray for you right now?". She shook her head yes as she silently sobbed. I prayed a simple prayer of peace over her and her daughter who had arrived at the scene and for provision during her husbands surgery and recovery. It wasn't an earth shattering prayer. But with my amen she turned to me and said how much of a blessing I was.
I walked away from the bench thinking how sometimes our #blessed moments in life are not only the things that raise us up, make us feel good or change our lives. Sometimes the #blessed moments come from being the blessing, in making even the smallest difference in someone else's. I was able to have experience both #blessed moments today and was able to pray it forward.
May you always be the blessings and forever be blessed.
{30 days of being #blessed}
