Blessed

I am assuming that even if you are not a believer you have uttered the words "I am so blessed." or have had someone inform you that you are, "so blessed".  Simple. But what does it mean? Does it mean that because you got a new car you are blessed? Or is it if you got a job while you were unemployed? Does this imply that because I do not have a new car or a job I am not blessed? I am more blessed than a homeless person who has a tent for a home? Is Tom Brady more blessed than I am because he has multiple homes? Is the family who has 19 children given more blessings that I because I only have 4 children? What about the family who is struggling to have children? Am I more or less blessed based on the things I can or can not afford? The list could go on and on and on...its limitless. 

I have been reading, listening, looking, and observing in general. Trying to figure out what exactly is a blessing. 

When I searched Google, I had over 9,700 matches to my search of 'define blessing' in .025 seconds. Amazing. The definition of a blessing from Google:

 bless·ing

ˈblesiNG/

noun

1. 1.

   God's favor and protection.

   "may God continue to give us his blessing"

   favor/protection

So, then it does mean that God favors me more that someone who only has one car because I happen to have 3. And the person that has 4 is favored even more correct? WRONG! 

I do not believe that a blessing only shows God's favor. Yes, in the past and in the Bible God did bless people with so many different things. We can find favor with God, but he doesn't always 'bless' us with material things as it seems some people think. 

Famous saying- Count Your Blessings. I could count forever...and still not be able to list all the ways in which I am blessed. In my hear of hearts, I know that the Lord has blessed me, and I am indeed blessed. I know this for the simple fact that He loves me. He loves me so much he gave his son for me. His PERFECT son! 

When I break this down even more, it brings me to tears. The son of God- Jesus, was perfect, from the moment he was conceived to the moment before the sin of the world was placed on his shoulders, that moment he paid the price for all of us. He was perfect. This makes me wonder when his mom told him to clean his room, do his chores...all of those things that typical kids dislike so much...if he did it with a cheerful heart- every time. He was perfect- he must have brought his parents so much joy. Now, I look at my sons, who are far from perfect.

Christ was given for all of us, but if it were just me, all alone, God would have given his son to die- not just doe but to be brutally killed a slow and agonizing death. He would do it again in a moment if it were to save me. That type of love is incredible. I will be the first to quickly admit that I would never sacrifice my son- ever. I simply can not. I love Tristan and Phoenix more than I love my own life, and I am sure I could never give them up, and it crushes my heart to even give thought to that. Yet God did it for me. He gave his son so that I could be redeemed. That I could dwell with him forever. 

Because of that I am blessed! Everything else no matter how great and wonderful, is just extra. The bad things? Sheer Joy! The flat tire? A blessing! The new iphone? A blessing. Heartache? A blessing! An argument with my husband? A blessing. A bill larger than I expected? A blessing! A job loss? A blessing! You name it, its all a blessing. Every moment I spend here on earth, good bad or indifferent; I'm blessed beyond measure, as are you because he died for you too! <3

This is a sign that was made for Tristan's room- he struggles the most with his relationship with Jesus, and saw a cardboard sign similar to this one and wanted it. I knew I had to have it made for him. This is a simple reminder that he is blessed.