Blessing
The Merriam Webster Dictionary says it is
:approval that allows or helps you to do something

: help and approval from God

: something that helps you or brings happiness

It might be because I have a God focused life purpose, or perhaps it’s that I know God does good things and have seen evidence, often. Perhaps I heard the word alot in my childhood and it is imbedded in my soul. I say YES! Blessing is, all of the above.
Primarily because and as a result of Jesus! His life! Knowing Him is the true blessing. The one that counts. From which “all blessings flow”.
But since we are here in this place. Walking around and living while we wait to go there, to be with Him in our forever home, our Father allows us to experience good things.
The credit, for blessing in my life, goes to God.
Blessing usually makes me smile and feel grateful, but sometimes it is disguised, as anything BUT “something that helps you or brings happiness”.
Oh
the seeing is often in looking back.
The understanding is afterwards and sometimes never. Some kinds of blessing I am not fond of.
I see tears in someone’s eyes or on their face
I give a hug to that one
weep in understanding with the heartbroken
laugh with another, at something funny. (Because laughter is a good medicine)
and
then I see it. Real and good. Just like the giver.
Blessing is not always about a good, a happy, an “approval” for me. Sometimes I am blessed, in a big way by seeing what God is doing for that other person.
That’s the thing
about God.
He is all for sharing, for living the truth of blessing. Letting it run all over the shoulders that stand next to mine.
And then I get more. Blessing that is.
When I think there is room for nothing else, because there is so much, it oveflows and
when I am sure there will never be another good day and my life is empty of blessing, He reminds me,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2Cor.12:9)
And then again
Blessing!
Did you know God’s word, the Bible, is alive?

So

In the past 48 hours I have been especially blessed
simple things, big blessing

A Friend, much younger than me. I hadn’t seen her in a few years and when in the past I did have opportunity to spend time with her, it was around a table. studying, learning, about God through His word. What better place to build friendships than there? I don’t know that the two of us had ever looked into each others eyes and chatted about anything else. It was always in the context of HIM.
She got wind of Apron Market and wanted to have a look. So I went. To her.
We sat at the counter in her kitchen. I watched the clock out of one eye since I had another appointment, actually two, that day.
she served me homemade soup. I hadn’t expected it. She makes very good soup. She also served me fresh muffins, from a basket lined with a cotton napkin. Baskets with cotton napkins always bless me. She didn’t know that.
We chatted, easily.
She had two children(of four) home that day and they were sweet.
90 minutes later I walked to my car, plastic apron bucket a bit lighter than when I arrived, under one arm.
I left there blessed.
She is sweet
She loves God and wants to live for him, as she parents and as she fills her roll as wife. These things are not easy. But God is her strength and her wise counsellor. He has blessed her and that day she blessed me. Or perhaps I should say God blessed me through her hospitality.

From there to a different setting.
They are both in wheelchairs now. They sat at a table in the dining room in their lovely assisted living building. There was already a cup of coffee next to my chair. A saucer on top of the cup to make sure it stayed warm. They each reached out for my face and kissed me. So happy to see me. Thankful I was there. They smiled.
“There is cream here for you” he said. “Would you like sugar”? she asked.
She was “all done up” in purple. Head to toe, including her soft slippers.
“You are both in wheelchairs now” I said. “How did you get here”?
It seems that he can “walk” himself while sitting in the chair and someone comes to wheel her from their suite to the dining room.
We chatted for a minute and laughing in a somewhat annoyed tone I explained that I had just bought them a lovely floral arrangement and would you believe it, I had left it on the counter at the store.
They laughed and I laughed. Well, I sort of laughed. (this sort of thing is not unusual for me)
She said, “you will have to wheel me down the hall to the hair salon”. “I’m getting a perm”.
I told her I would be delighted to do so.
I was and I did
I then went back to the store to retrieve the forgotten arrangement. I first brought it to her. She had just had her hair washed and was attempting to sit in the salon chair. Actions like getting to a sitting position are not easy when you are almost 90. She liked the flowers. Her favorite. Hyacinths!
From there I went up the elevator and rang the bell to their home. He called out that I should come in. I did.
I unwrapped the flowers and set them on the little table near the window. They truly were beautiful. I told him I would come back in a few days and get the container so I could fill it up again, with something else. He smiled and told me he thought that was so nice.
I will. Lord willing and if God tarries.
I left that place with a smile on my face, thinking
I am a blessed woman.

From there I made my way back to the big city, since both of these events had transpired to the north.

I got home just in time to zip my carryon and comb my hair before my husband arrived and we headed to the airport, to a plane that carried us here, to the desert. It is for just three days, but we are thankful to get some sun and warmth for a few hours. (This is the fourth blessing although it came before the third)

The third blessing is an especially interesting one.
I was excited to meet my 4 month old great niece, for the first time. She was of course with her mom and dad and I was thrilled to gather the three into a hug before we sat at the table in one of our favorite restaurants. True Food Kitchen. It is bright and cheery and serves good, fresh food.
They let me hold the little one and when her dad, at one point said “I can take her if you want to eat” I said “I want to eat but I don’t want you to take her. She just might end the meal wearing some of my salad”. They said they didn’t mind.

As we had waited outside for a table, a youngish couple walked past and the man smiled very warmly at us. He seemed to look almost longingly at Janae, in a kind and not inappropriate way. We smiled back and continued with our conversation. When we were eventually seated, it was “coincidentally” right next to the table where the young couple were sitting. We smiled at them again and carried on. Such a lovely time we had. chatting and eating and enjoying our young one. As usual, before eating, we bowed our heads, we three and I thanked God for the blessing of us, being together, in this beautiful place. I thanked him for family and His faithfulness and for the food. It was not a long prayer and we settled back into our conversation

From time to time we glanced over to see the couple watching us, smiling. At one point she said “my little one is almost 8” and her face said she would rather be telling us her youngest was two and she had another on the way.
They had a kind look and I felt that we could be friends. Have much to talk about.

They finished and as they left the youngish man asked what the name of the baby was. Her mom, my niece, told him. He smiled and walked away.
We finished our lunch and decided there was room for one dessert and three spoons.
Soon, I asked for the bill and after placing it on the table, our young server walked away. I studied the bill for a minute and realized there had been a mistake. It contained only the dessert portion.
I looked again and a thought crossed my mind.
But no
Surely not
I glanced behind me to see our young lady watching me, smiling, ear to ear. I called her over and as she got closer I knew for sure.
I asked her
She smiled again and nodded
“The man who was sitting next to you took care of your bill. He said to tell you “Jesus loves you”.
My niece said at that point that she had seen those two, kindhearted people, bow over their own lunch. I had not noticed as of course I was completely enthralled with our baby.
I felt them coming. Yes, my eyes got rather blurred. I gave myself a stern talking to and said “don’t you dare”.
Such kindness
What they may not have known, those two, was that the blessing of their generosity was far reaching. To me, to my loved ones and to the sweet girl who took such good care of us. She may have never seen such a thing done in the name of Jesus.
We were blessed and I couldn’t help but consider God’s living word to us

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” Hebrews 10:24

God is always good, even when our lives seem to fall apart. He is merciful and kind to give us little glimpses into that goodness.

Great is HIS Faithfulness