Choose To Be a Blessing

[cleanaturalady]

Being a blessing to those around us is a choice. Part of being a blessing to those around us is to be a constructive, positive influence. Looking at the bright, positive side is also a choice. At times it can be a hard choice, but I have never met someone who said "Boy, I regret looking for the good in that situation."

In John 1:16, it says "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." As Christians if we believe that all good things come from above and that we do receive one blessing after the other because of the grace of our God - we must pass it on. We can't just hand out our blessings and be positive with those who agree with us, we are called to repay evil and insults with blessings (1 Peter 3:9).

Whenever it is within my power I will choose to live in peace and positivity. What blessing is it to my fellow humans to tear another down to build myself up? I have never understood the need to base self affirmation on destroying the character of another. It accomplishes nothing but strife. Each day has enough friction of its own without adding my own to the mix.

These days it is difficult to keep an affirmative outlook. There are a lot of dark clouds in the form of negative people out there. In my view these are people who have lost their way and are in need of my support, not my condemnation. In this case I choose to be a blessing. My support does not include patting them on the back and telling them that what they did or said is okay. Giving my support, to my way of thinking, means guiding them; leading them to an understanding that choosing positivity is always a good option.

Being a blessing in this life is a process. Not everyone is born with rose colored glasses on. Bad things happen in our lives and it can be an uphill battle to stay positive. We often feel reluctant to bless the life of someone else, because we feel that it will not be repaid in kind. Why should we be the ones to bless someone else? That doesn't matter. Blessing someone else is not an act of reciprocity; it is a gift, freely given.

It is my prayer that it will be said of me that I was a blessing in the lives of those around me; evidenced by the fruit I leave behind. What a testimony that would be to my relationship with my God and the power of the fullness of his grace.

The Blessing - John Waller (one of my new favorites)

[JoyeAustin]

Oct. 31, 2008 at 10:21 AM

Yes yes yes. It is so easy, when mired down by stress and strife, to be bitter and resentful and self-pitying. It takes conscious effort to remember your blessings and to BE a positive influence in another person's life.

[Moonrush]

Oct. 31, 2008 at 10:24 AM

Kim, as always, you are a ray of sunshine.  I hope, as the election draws closer, that more people will choose to be a blessing rather than choosing to promote negativity.  You are so right - promoting positivity within ourselves and others is not the easy path.  On the contrary, it's most often the hardest one.  In the end, it will only benefit us and those around us to take the more challenging route.

[JoyeAustin]

Oct. 31, 2008 at 10:29 AM

Kim, I had Jamie read this, and he loved it.

[DestMasters]

Oct. 31, 2008 at 10:41 AM

[Jifner75]

Oct. 31, 2008 at 11:10 AM

You are a blessing Kim!  I can't tell you how many times I have read one of your journals and felt so much better.  You are a wonderful, caring, wise lady and anyone who has the privilege of knowing you is very blessed.

[cleanaturalady]

Oct. 31, 2008 at 11:18 AM

Thanks for the affirmation ladies.  Let me just say, since I didn't mention it in the journal itself -- I have grown weary of all the negative political journals I have been reading lately.  I really don't want to hear (read) another negative word about a candidate.  It is much more effective if you are trying to persuade voters to vote for your candidate, to tell them what is good about that particular candidate.  If he is good enough to vote for, then his positive record and the great things about him should stand alone; you shouldn't have to drag the other candidate through to mud to make your point.

(Original Poster)

[chocosmom]

Nov. 1, 2008 at 7:59 AM

Thank you again Kim.  I am sure it has helped and reaffirmed the faith and the wisdom of other Moms and the other folks that recieved this.  It is so very difficult to keep a smile and show your happiness when you are surrounded by "He said/She said" ads.  We are truly blessed to be able to have our own positions and beliefs but we needed to remember that we are blessed, as you say, with the ability to stop our own negativity and let the positive shine through!

[Sweetyblossoms6]

Nov. 1, 2008 at 9:29 AM

My dad told me last night that he read a sign that said..  " IF YOU FEEL YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR, OR BLESSED, CHECK YOUR PULSE!!! " This is so true and I agree totaly with you on being a blessing to all in life. It is hard sometimes but if I start to stray I pray...

[aussiegirl3]

Nov. 1, 2008 at 9:56 AM

I decided a while ago that I will no longer encourage the political banter on the journals. Its so disappointing, really that I can go thru 4-5 pages of journals and not find more than one or two I can comment on or learn anything positive from.  I had to just teach this lesson to my kids yesterday.  They feel justified sometimes doing exactly what they think is wrong because they feel "justified" because their sibling did it.  I explained that as a Christian, if you believe something is wrong when someone else does it, you don't return the action to them just because you think you're justified.  There have been so many comments on CM that I have been tempted to respond because they made me angry, but remind myself that it won't bring good, but feed a fire.  Thanks for writing what I've been feeling for weeks!

[aussiegirl3]

Nov. 1, 2008 at 10:03 AM

Can I just mention, too that there are so many moms on this site that are hurting and some even reach out on a journal post.  It breaks my heart that the comments on these journals are only one or two or they sit empty.  Then they political posts fill to the hundreds.  This site may be the only place a lonely mom might find encouragement and it take s few seconds to respond to their sorrows or fears.  We have the power to lift someone up or tear someone down.  "Every blessing and curse is a choice now" (from song above). Thanks again!