Kylie sat snuggled in circle formation surrounded by her small group of 8th grade girls, eager to hear what each would share. The ice breaker question was an easy one: Name three things you’re thankful for.
“Food, family and friends” the first girl declared boldly.
“Food, family and friends” said the second girl, too. As did the third. Not exactly the original, authentic kind of sharing my daughter hoped for. Kylie quickly realized these girls needed a bit of direction if the conversation was ever going to get off the ground.
“Hold on. New Rule. You can’t repeat each other. If someone says it, think of something else”.
Kylie’s mandate was received with a wall of blank stares; a sea of deer-in-the-headlights expressions, as if she’d asked them to recite the preamble to the constitution (which, by the way, might have been easier).
Then…silence.
(Insert awkward cricket noises)
“Wait, you mean to tell me that you girls live in the United States and you can’t think of anything you’re really thankful for other than food, family and friends? Girls, look around!”
When Kylie shared her story with me last week I was surprised. Sort of. It made me sad, both for them and for me.
For them, because people who live with a sense of entitlement never find true happiness or contentment. And what, in heavens name, are we parents doing to raise a generation of kids who have such little concept of how blessed they are? Of how blessed we all are?
It made me sad for me because sometimes I see myself in them. Like a self-centered middle schooler, I too can forget how much I truly have to be thankful for. Sure, holidays like Thanksgiving provide pause to reflect on my blessings, but what about the other 364 days of the year?
Just last week I prayed for God to bless me (nothing wrong with that)but then I heard His tender whisper: You already are.
In so many ways I’m still in the eighth grade.
I forget to be grateful.
I’m pretty sure you do, too.
Which is why Kylie’s story made me even more excited about “25 Days of Blessings”. If we’ve ever needed a reminder about what true blessings are and how we can be blessed and be a blessing, it’s now!
Join me on this 25 day experiment in blessing, won’t you? There’s no better time than the Christmas season. Each day, Dec 1 – 25, you’ll receive a short email with one Bible verse on being a blessing or being blessed, along with fun, easy application tips to do with your family, your friends or by yourself.
There’s no better time to join “25 Days of Blessings”. Others may face the upcoming holiday season with a deer-in-the headlights outlook, but not us.
We are blessed. We will be blessed. And we will be a blessing to those around us.
25 Days of Blessings Signup
Your article came up on FB while I am in the middle of writing a six-part sermon series called “A Healthy Church” (Acts. 2:42-47). Part five is a healthy church is a blessed church. I am going to quote your banner and use the story about Kylie and the girls, if you don’t mind. The word “Blessed” means “to speak well of.” The Greek EULOGEO gives us our English word eulogy. We are blessed when God can speak well of us, and we don’t have to wait until we are dead to hear Him say, “Well done!” To have God bless us, to speak well of us and cause us to prosper means we are following God and allowing His prosperous blessing to flow through us and into the lives of others. Following and flowing. We are blessed to be a blessing. That shows in your ministry, Donna. Keep on flowing!
Wow! I just love how God uses the body of Christ. I’m humbled my words will be a tiny part of your sermon (which sounds fabulous by the way!). I may just use your words as part of my 25 Days of Blessing project. I love the definition of blessed. Blessings to you, Jim!