DQ 3-1: April 24-30: How do you “give” a blessing?
We probably know what it means to receive a blessing. But Henri opens the door for us to consider GIVING a blessing to others. How do you give a blessing to others? (Please be specific, because your responses will give the rest of us creative ideas.) Also, does the thought of giving a blessing to others remind you of anyone who whom you want to give a blessing?
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May 24th, 2006 @ 9:59 am
HOW DO I GIVE A BLESSING.
well, i give a blessing very easily, because i am so blessed myself in faith, family and friends. i am blessed with time, talent and treasure to shar. i have life and have it abundently at this point.
i bless family and friends and strangers i meet by seeing them as jesus and trying to show them the jesus in me. i give freely of my time, talent and treasure. the more i give, THE MORE I RECEIVE IN RETURN. IT IS SO TRUE AND I AM CONSTANGLY AMAGED. i have taken the lord at his word. i have stepped out in faith and trust. jesus has not let me down! i feel his presence in all that i am and do. i am trying to live the BE-ATTITUDES as jesus asks.
there are some difficult times when i come up against people who do not like/love me. but jesus told us it would not be easy. i have the habit of some times trying for force my friendship on others who really do not want it. here i have to step back - take a look at what i’m doing and remember that the grace of friendship cannot be forced on anyone. thank you jesus for teaching me this lesson over and over. thank you for helping me not to feel rejected and for helping me to pray for these, my brothers and sisters.
BLESSING RECEIVED ARE FREE GIFTS FROM OUR FATHER, HIS BELOVED SON AND THEIR HOLY SPIRIT.
maggie
May 5th, 2006 @ 3:09 am
I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments on this topic. I think we give a blessing by taking a moment before interacting with someone and assessing what they need. One day it may be advice. Another day it may be stillness and a listening ear. Another day it may be tangible assistance. Another day it may be a smile or laughter.
April 28th, 2006 @ 5:49 am
Patty,
Congratulations! I believe that the closest God comes to letting us “assist” in a miracle is when we give birth! God’s blessings on all of you.
April 27th, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
What I appreciate so much about this online discussion is how much you are all affirming one another. It’s something easy to ignore to just say we don’t have to bother — but this kind of affirmation is indeed a way of giving a blessing.
April 27th, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
Thanks, Karen, for affirming my thoughts and experience. That in itself is a blessing, to be understood.
And congratulations, Patty! How positively exciting!
Carole
April 27th, 2006 @ 10:35 am
Congratulations Patty. May God continue to bless you and may your tribe increase !!
April 27th, 2006 @ 7:41 am
Congratulations to all, Patty!! I felt blessed by your sharing and it made me think that the creation of life, being a mother, giving birth and new life itself are special blessings. May God bless you and your family.
April 26th, 2006 @ 11:41 pm
Hi All,
I have barely had time to re-read this chapter as I believe I have been giving my daughter the greatest blessing a wheelchair bound Mom could give her.
Yesterday at 7:13am (25th), after almost 24 hrs of labour, she delivered her first child, and very beautiful Benjamin Lucas at 7lbs.6oz.
I came up to the hospital at 2 pm and literally styed with her throughout her entire ordeal. I encouraged her, told her how well she was doing, and that it was okay to express her pain. Baby’s head was a typically large head like my son, my husband, etc. (Not overly large), but difficult for birth, especially for a first baby.
I kept telling her how well she was doing and was able to witness the miracle of new life.
Once he was cleaned up and sleeping on her lap, I said, “well, Sweetie, was it worth it?” “OH Yeah!!” I held our new grandson the whole time they were stitching her up. I again told her how well she did and that I was proud of her.
When her Dad came to get me and meet his Grandson, as we were leaving, we both kissed her and I told again how proud of her I was and told her to try and sleep.
Of course we were back yesterday and today for quite sometime, and if both continue to do well, she may be released tomorrow. I had a special Gift for her, and collectable Angel Holding a Baby. I believe that new Mom’s need something specifically for them, as all they get are gifts for the Baby.
Being there for her and staying around as she has suddenly found herself a single Mom through no fault f her own, and continuing to be here for her, is all part of how we bless our children.
April 26th, 2006 @ 6:21 pm
Hello Carole, I totally believe the truth of what you are saying. I have a story to tell about why it is important to let others help/give to you. Years ago I volunteered to shovel the snow of an elderly neighbor and she told me not to do it as she has someone she pays. This woman’s response robbed two people of a blessing. And what if I had felt so insulted, dismayed or whatever that I never volunteered to help anyone again. I’m sure that could happen to a shy person, right?
For years we were on the giving end to others. I got to see up close and personal the responses and I can’t say it ever made me feel good to have people act like I shouldn’t do something/give something (because of their pride, I guess). I was always so blessed by just a thank you or actual excitedness.
Because of our circumstances, more and more we are on the receiving end. I make a point of being a gracious receiver - that way 2 people are blessed!
I think it is in I Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 that talk about giving and the purpose for it. Most people will be on the giving end AND the receiving end in their lives. I think that is just God’s design for the church. Seems like this is what you are saying at the end of your entry.
May the Lord continue to provide for all your needs.
April 26th, 2006 @ 8:54 am
Hello all,
I think I mentioned before that I am chronically ill, and financially poor. It has, at times, been difficult to keep a healthy sense of self-esteem when adding that to an innate sense of shame and guilt. I have been fortunate enough to receive many blessings from others, some by the way of empathy, others by way of frinancial contribution. I don’t always know how to receive graciously, but I am learning. Recently during a prayer time, I believe I “heard” Jesus speak to me, that it is a blessing for and to others for me to offer to them my vulnerability, my weaknesses, so that they have the blessing of being able to give. I had heard this before and thought it a platitude, but I experienced it deeply as a truth. I have held my head a bit higher since then. We all have our place in life, this is mine, and I am loved, this is what Jesus has given me.
April 26th, 2006 @ 7:35 am
I reread this chapter and think Nouwen is stressing how important it is to learn to bless ourselves, to claim our belovedness, the truth that we are chosen by God. In doing so through prayer and presence, we become less and less effected by the lies that would tell us otherwise. Once we begin to believe in our blesssedness, Nouwen points out that we will seek the belovedness of others, blessing them. “Choose the blessing and not the curse”- those words from Nouwen are a blessing in themselves and a great challenge.
April 25th, 2006 @ 9:14 pm
Shared laughter is a great blessing and gift,lightening burdens and illuminating joys.
You can bless others by conveying to them their uniqueness, talents by how you treat them - what Nouwen calls “hospitality”. I believe we all sense a blessing another indicates by word, action or silence. Shared time is a blessing, doing things with a friend simply for the pleasure of their company. I have a older friend and we often spend a hour or two over coffee just talking about anything at all. We once went to a lecture on the Iraqi war. He modestly told the lecturer that he was a vetern. I mentioned how proud I was to know this Lt Gen navy pilot. I watched a young student come up to my friend and ask if he could hug him to thank him for service to our country in WWII and saw the lecturer salute him, wish him well at the book signing conclusion. Those were blessings received by him, but they made everyone feel blessed. The hardest person to bless is myself- reading with the group, sharing experiences and prayer is a blessing that helps me do better.
April 25th, 2006 @ 6:45 am
Good Morning,
As I read this chapter what jumped out at me when Henri was talking about blessing others was an emphasis on verbally blessing others. Currently I am reading Love Languages of Children. The whole love languages concept is that there are 5 ways people feel love. Only one deals with words. The other four are: service, quality time, physical touch and receiving gifts.
I have never given a blessing such as the one Henri gave to individuals in that group. Of course I have said many kind, true things to people about themselves that I know from their reaction blessed them.
One of my gifts is creativity, so when I want to bless someone and tell them how much they mean to me, I make something, usually a bookmark for them. I also just see needs in their lives and step up. One of my girlfriends didn’t have much time to herself because of a large family so I would come and take her youngest kids for a few hours. Stuff like that.
A new friend of mine recently said I was an answer to prayer. Wow! Amazing to be an answer to prayer. Me, not something I did, just me!
Anyway, I can tell I will never (I know, never say never) be the kind of blesser Henri was. But I can bless in my own way.
April 24th, 2006 @ 5:54 pm
Often, in the course of a day, a person will call or show up wanting to share something with us/ This can come in avery small way, but behind the gesture that person is trying to tell us his story.
I think we bless people when we let them share their stories with us,
Often, that means bracketing our own needs and just listening.
We can help people along by asking tender question about what they are trying to tell us. This is like listening between the lines.
Another thing that is so important is to call on Jesusto help us love this person with His love.
These are just short, arrow prayers; we want to be completely attentive to our person.
This is just a small way, but there is someone in my life who does this for me, and she has blessed me, indeed.
Have a good week!
Colette
April 24th, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
We could do that by generously entrusting all their needs ……be it health, peace, prosperity etc into the hands of a generous loving Father, and assure them that God is love personified. Backing that blessing with scripture helps:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
I have always felt extremely comforted when the blesser goes beyond my needs and the blessing is extended to every member of my family and every action / interaction etc. In other words when a blessing is given from the boundless goodness of one’s heart it provides such consolation…..the feeling arises that this is what it means to belong to the same human family. It is not necessary to be related to one another to feel that love and connection.