I notice when I ask people how they are doing a lot of times the response is “I am blessed.” The way I see it we are all blessed. Every single one of us. Just waking up in the morning is a blessing and for that we should all be grateful. Not only are we blessed in being alive but we have been given certain gifts to go with our blessings like the ability to love and be loved, the ability to give and be given. Some gifts include talents such as the ability to sing, dance, play an instrument, be a great doctor, lawyer, teacher, parent, friend or listener.
From our children to our elderly and many in between, there are those among us who face difficult challenges each and every day mentally, physically, emotionally and financially who are still very blessed. It is sometimes easy for us to forget that our blessings and gifts are not just about us alone. Those of us who don’t face those challenges are blessed by giving the gift of friendship, support and love to those who do face them if we make the choice and believe me – it is a choice.
So, it is not a question of being blessed or not being blessed. It is a question of how we choose to use our blessings, gifts and talents. Do we just use them for our own enrichment? Do we twist and turn our blessings into instruments of anger and hate? Do we try to uplift, encourage and support others? Do we use our blessings and talents to make someone else’s life a little easier? I am not talking about saving the whole world but how about doing something to make your little corner of it a little brighter for even one person can start a ripple that may effect the world.
Booker T. Washington said “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” As this holiday season approaches, let’s all share our blessings and talents with those who need it and do some lifting. I promise it’s not heavy!