BE A BLESSING
Blessing—the act or words of a person that blesses, to be a blessing means to help others in a selfless way.
This simple, yet profound concept is an irreplaceable component of a great marriage. Are you determined to be a blessing to your spouse? Is this your marriage mentality? Your life mentality?
When I was a little boy, we attended a church in California. There was an old hymn we used to sing, it was one of my favorites. It stuck with me all these years. The hymn was called Make Me a Blessing. The chorus went like this.
Make be a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.
How does Jesus shine out of our lives? Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds!!!! Deeds, deeds, deeds! It is our good deeds done for others that blesses them.
This little phrase, make me a blessing, and the implication of those words, has been my primary life’s mission. My earnest desire is that I would be a blessing to others, and most certainly a blessing to my wife and children. I’m reminded of the description of Jesus in Acts 10:38, Jesus went around doing good! This is precisely what it means to be a blessing to others. We go around doing good, in word and in deed.
Think for a moment what your marriage could be like, if this was your mindset, and practice! To rise every day intentionally determined to be a blessing to your spouse and family, determined to do good for them.
This isn’t hard or impossible to do. It is attainable. It’s amazing what we can do for others if we just put our heart and soul into it, and develop this mentality.
Early this morning I drove my wife’s van to fill it with gas for her. I took the time to put things in it she will need for her day helping with grandkids. Recently, family was in town to visit. Before they came I quickly cleaned our bathroom, vacuumed the floor, and washed and dried the bathroom rugs. This was a blessing to my wife. I often take time to write emails of encouragement to others, to bless them, to encourage their spirit. I am intentionally determined each day when I get out of bed to make it my personal mission to be a blessing to my wife and to others around me.
One day I was waiting in line to check out at the grocery store. The person in front of me, I could tell, was trying to spend a certain amount for the large family they had with them. They were carefully counting the items and watching the total as each item was scanned. Suddenly they said, “stop”, leaving some items that I could tell they needed, but didn’t have the money for. I simply looked at them, and the clerk, and said, “Please put the rest of those items on my bill as you scan my things, I will pay for them.” They were stunned. It only came to 10 extra dollars, but it was a big deal to this lady. For me it was a simple way to be a blessing to someone, to let my light shine before others, by a good deed done for someone else.
I see my wife go out of her way over and over again for me, for our children and our grandchildren. She is a huge blessing to us and to them. Through her countless good deeds, her simple, selfless acts of kindness and generosity, her gracious, kind, wise words. She helps out in any way she possibly can.
This is the primary goal of my ministry, of my weekly articles, that they would be a blessing to you and to others.
May God make you a great blessing to others, especially your family.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
