I am constantly amazed at how quickly time seems to go by. I am sure that it was just
yesterday when we were enjoying Thanksgiving dinner and decorating for Christmas. And yet,
here we are again, face to face with the holiday season.
“Blessed” is a favorite word of many individuals throughout the year in describing their
lives. Just the other day I saw “BLESSED” on a license plate attached to a nice car. I’m still
trying to figure out what the individual was trying to say. “Blessed” because I have a really nice
car? “Blessed” because I have a job that can afford a really nice car? “Blessed” that I am married
to someone who can afford a really nice car? Some will suggest I am being too critical, or
perhaps even too cynical, but the question remains, what do we mean when we answer that we
are “blessed”?
As we enter into this holiday season, I challenge each of us to take a few moments each
day to consider how “blessed” we truly are, beyond the physical blessings. The physical
blessings are wonderful —plenty of food on the table, plenty of clothes in the closet, a roof over
our heads, a job to provide for our families, lots of “extras” because we have the wherewithal to
enjoy such “extras”. Yes, God has been very good to all of us!
But let’s spend more time considering the “blessings” God has provided on a spiritual
level —His Word to guide us in life, His Spirit to dwell in us and help us live our lives for Him,
His Son who died on the cross to give us hope in eternal life. We need to remind ourselves of
God’s sanctification, justification, redemption, and salvation. God has provided the way to avoid
temptation, and when we sin, the way to forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. We have
the blessing of prayer, connecting us personally with God, any time day and night, in good or in
bad times. We have the Lord’s assurance that He is with us always, so we have nothing to fear.
And this list could go on and on.
Yes, we have much to be thankful for, and yes, we are “blessed”. But let’s be sure to
explain why we are so blessed all the time, not just this time of year!
“I will tell of Thy name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise Thee.
You who fear the Lord, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.” ~Psalm 22:22

~P. Mowrer