Day 350 - Unexpected Blessings

"I bought A. A. Milne's book “When we were very young” thinking it was about Winnie the Pooh again but it turned out to be a book of poetry. At first we were disappointed but then while looking at the pictures I started reading some of the poems and the kids got into it. Soon they were laughing and enjoying the poems. One especially where the kid was walking on the squares and avoiding the lines so that the Bears wouldn't eat him."

I have often ventured out thinking that something was a certain way and have been surprised to find something else. I can see that throughout the year it has been a reoccurring theme in my life and in my writing. Yesterday's post is proof of that. 

Today I see another side of this thought. There are unexpected blessings on the path we take. It is as if God is up the road leaving gifts along the way for us to find. I am sure He delights to see how we will respond when we find His hand at work in our life and the blessings enjoyed. 

The unexpected blessing of the book I bought last year was not the fact that we enjoyed a book. The real blessing was that I was expecting to put my kids to bed with a story as I normally would and instead found laughter, joy and shared memories with my children. Money can't buy that blessing. 

We may think we are cooking dinner, walking into a meeting or going grocery shopping. If our steps are ordered of the Lord, and they are, then we can be assured that there will be divine appointments and unexpected blessings as we walk in His ways. The blessings of friendship, marriage, parenting, prosperity and success await. 

Have you found any unexpected blessings on the path lately? Should we expect blessings?

Day 307 - The Right Answer

"[My son] told me that when Jesus would heal him that he would say thank you every time." 

That was the right answer...for all of us. It is a common courtesy to say thank you when someone does something for you or gives something to you. And yet it seems at times that gratitude is a lost art. We should be the most thankful people because we have the most to be thankful for. We also should be the most expressive people. It unlocks something for us as well as those we are thanking.

Jesus pointed this out when he healed ten lepers and only one returned to say thank you. The one that returned was a Samaritan. Jesus even pointed this out too saying that only a foreigner came back when all ten should have been there. 

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday this month don't let it be the one time a year you say thank you to God and the people you do life with. It takes time and effort but it encourages others and shows your appreciation when you say thank you. 

Accept the command to give thanks always and in every situation. Meet the expectation of the One whom we are most indebted to give thanks to. Say it, pray it and show it with your life. 

How are some ways to say thank you? What are you most thankful for?