Blessed

Meant to write last night, but.....sleep was calling my name. One of my favorite sayings is "words mean things." I think I first heard it on my favorite podcast, The Read, stated by Crissle. It stuck out to me for so many reasons and I often use this phrase in life.

So yesterday I was thinking about the word blessed. I think it is often used in church and in life, so I looked up the definition and some definitions are as follows:

1. Held in reverence
2. Honored in worship
3. Of or enjoying happiness 
4. Bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune

I often say that I am blessed, but do I mean it? Do I just say it to convince myself or do I really mean it? We often say things out of habit and because they sound good, but do I really think that I am blessed???

Yes I do think I am blessed! When I think over my life and opportunities that I have had I truly am blessed. I have had hard times in life, but overall when I think about my life....I am blessed. We often take things for granted in life, and assume things that we receive or have are things we are owed or a given...they are not. So when I think about that I truly realize that I am truly blessed.  

Today (well should have been yesterday) is the start of a series....I will explain at the end, but for now...enjoy the ride!

Blessed!!!

Yesterday I attempted to write a blog on sacrifice and some how tie in the celebration of Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday and what was going on in Haiti...every time I attempted to write I cried.  So much has been on mind and dealing with so much I honestly did not have the words.  This morning while at my desk I was working, going through emails, reading blogs, and glancing at twitter (great multitasker) and something really struck me....

I am Blessed!!!

This is not a statement out of vainity or self centeredness, but a realization that I think a lot of people need to come too.  One of my favorite people on twitter to follow was attempting to raise funds to get laptops to people working in Haiti to help with the recovery mission. His passion inspires me and makes me think.  Watching the news stories and seeing what the people of Haiti are having to go though makes me hurt.  One person I know stated the fact that the conditions in Haiti were not the best of things before the earthquake...now they have been hit by a natural disaster that has left them worse....

Saying all this, as Americans we take for granted the blessings and things that we have in this country.  This weekend I had to catch myself...I was complaining because I loaded my dishwasher and it was broken. I was mad that I had to take out the dishes and wash them by hand...I got to thinking, there are people who have nothing and are still grateful for being alive. My church asked us to bring blankets, bottled water, and sneakers to donate to the people in Haiti. Going though my closets I had so many shoes that I have not worn in forever and had 4 pair of sneakers that were practically brand new that were collecting dust.  There are people out there with no shoes. 

I am tired of complaining about what I don't have, and I am thankful for what I do have!  I am blessed with life, family, friends, and so many other things...my blessings are more than the things that I have. They are things that you can't quanitfy in value.