Bountiful Blessings
August 5, 2012
We watched
with tears in our eyes and pain in our heart as the media replayed clips of
people running out of the theater in Aurora after a mass shooting. We read the
newspaper with puzzlement about a drunk guy sitting on his four wheeler
shooting at passing cars in Brompton. The radio host uses words like “domestic
terrorism” to describe the Sikh shooting in Wisconsin. We talk amongst each
other, pondering what causes such acts of needless violence. Some blame
childhood. Some blame video games and desensitization. Some blame evil. I have
prayed many of prayers and shed my share of tears. But today, for today, I
would like to focus on the other side of the coin. The media bombards us with
the tragedies. For a couple of weeks, we get to see some good…. The Olympics.
The athletes
in the Olympics bring pride to the nation. Whether you watch them or not, most
likely you recognize the name Missy Franklin or Gabby the gymnast. What about
the dynamic duo of May Traynor and Welsh Jennings? And I think EVERYBODY
probably knows Michael Phelps. These outstanding athletes and SO, SO MANY MORE
show promise, hope, strength and pride. They give America something positive to
focus on, to rally around, something good to talk about.
Now to get
to my point for today. Pride. We are proud of the athletes. Sure. And not just
the US athletes. All of them work hard, make sacrifices, train, train and more
training. But you do not have to be an Olympian to make someone proud. For the
young lady who changed her lifestyle when she found out she was carrying little
Zahara - we are proud of you! For the young lady who works hard to support her
children and give them a happy and healthy life - great job! For the student
striving hard to graduate with your bachelor‘s or your PhD- way to go! For the
young man who cleaned up his act and is working as an assistant manager - that
is awesome! For the young lady who recently acquired a job - knew you could do
it! For the friend who kept her cool and her patience when faced with a difficult
co-worker - well, props to you! For the faculty member who was spoke at a
conference or was recently published - congratulations! For the grandmother
whose grandbabies’ faces light up at the opportunity to spend time with you -
awww! For the special woman who has had a rough time but keeps a smile on her
face - you are a blessing! For the gentleman who honors and respects his wife –
we need more of you! I read a sign for police officers that stated that real
heroes don’t wear capes. I liked the idea. Yes, police officers, fire personnel,
emergency personnel - all true heroes. But so are YOU! You matter. You
count. You. We are proud of YOU.
Today I ask
that you share these words with someone. Tell someone you love, someone you
work with, a stranger on the street, doesn’t matter, someone. Tell someone that
you are proud of them. These simple words carry a lot of weight. “Im proud of
you for ……“ A friend of mine tells a story about his father. He said his father
told him he was a jewel. He swelled up with pride over his father’s words and
then his father said that there wasn’t much of a market for jewels. Now, I know
this man well, he is a true treasure,
and I know that his father must have been picking on him. Sadly, his father
passed on many years ago while he was a boy. This story still resonates with
him. Years later, he still thinks about his dad and the praise he gave him that
day. Make a difference to someone today. Let someone know that you are proud
of them.
Prayer for the week:
Dear Lord, it is easy to judge when someone does wrong. Easy
to point out an error or a flaw but so hard to give praise. Lord, please help
me to understand that a compliment does not make me weak but instead makes me
strong. Through strength and love, may I serve you better, be the person that
you want me to be. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Bible Verse for the
week:
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we
curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come
praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and
salt water flow from the same spring? James 3:9-11
Bible Fun for the week:
Occupations - matching
1 Abel a
archer, hunter
2 Boaz b
assistant to Moses
3 David c
carpenter
4 Deborah d
high priest
5 Eleazar e
judge
6 Elijah f
king
7 Ezra g
musician, shepherd, king
8 Ishmael h
prophet
9 Jezebel I
queen
10 Joash j
scribe
11 Joseph (Jesus’s father) k
shepherd
12 Joshua l
tentmaker, missionary
13 Paul m
wealthy farmer
1k, 2m, 3g, 4e, 5d, 6h, 7j, 8a, 9i, 10f, 11c, 12b, 13l
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