Photo by Kadyn Pierce on Unsplash

Be Blessed, Not Empowered

Think about ways to empower someone. I work with kids so I am constantly trying to find ways that equip young people with the skills that will allow them to take care of themselves. I do so by teaching little guys how to tie their shoes. I teach big guys how to set examples and sow with reaping in mind. I am empowering them to take charge of themselves. 

But that also means that someone did the same thing for me. My dad with only having one arm, taught me how to tie my shoes. Crazy, but I learned it because we made it a team effort. I couldn't command both my hands to different tasks. (happens around 4-6 years old) 

I was empowered. However, I was also blessed.

And here is where I think the difference comes in, see we are told to stop and enjoy things, that pretty soon the moment will pass us and if we are not careful, the joy that we could have had in the moment will be gone. Stop and smell the roses. If we are blessed to reach a new plateau, then when we arrive there we are grateful for that milestone and take it in. Really savor the moment. However, when we are empowered, when we take the sense of accomplishment as fuel for our fire to keep truckin and achieve more. Are we, at that point, of the same mindset to appreciate where we've come from and where we have arrived? I don't think we are.

See, I discovered this when I reflected on the uniqueness of our current selves in this current moment. We are uniquely equipped to be here...and now. Partly because of the nurturing we received, or lack thereof, but have we stopped to smell the roses of where we are? Right now?

Currently we are in a recession which was brought on by a variety of factors...most of all moral failures. We are in a politically tense climate in the USA, which may be as bad or worse than the civil war. Because at least the South had the intestinal fortitude it took to secede from the union. (not saying I agree with them, but at least they were willing to throw down.) Are we the kind of people who will fight for what we believe in...or have been relegated to being talking and dancing sideshows, forever hooo-hooo'ing and haaa-haaa'ing in front of video cameras?

Have we slowed ourselves down to take a count of what matters? What we are thankful for? What has blessed us? And most importantly, from whom that blessing came? It always puzzles people how Paul and Peter could sing to God in the middle of a jail cell. Perhaps its because they knew how blessed they were.

Make a list of things that are blessings in your life and spend some time thanking God for those things. I think you'll find that no matter what plateau you are on or what the next one is that each time you stop and smell those roses, they will be sweet and worth it every time.