Beset By Blessings

Deuteronomy 28:2 – And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. (AMP)

Philippians 4:11 – Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. (NKJV)

Our friend, Jennifer, lives on a small plot of land in the country and works as a dog breeder. It was a glorious winter's day when we went for a scenic drive through the countryside and landed on her doorstep. On this particular afternoon, her five-year-old grandson, Ben, and his little dog, Freckles, were visiting. While we sat chatting, Ben quietly crept alongside his grandmother and whispered into her ear. Gazing into Ben's eyes and wearing a radiant smile, she agreed to grant his request.

Within minutes, Jennifer began delivering armfuls of wiggly puppies for Ben to play with. Ben sat on the floor with arms wide open as frisky pups eagerly clambered all over him. All ten pups delighted in the opportunity to play with their young friend. Ben giggled as he was overtaken by waves of leaping fur balls. Watching this encounter elicited a spontaneous bubbling-over of joy. I asked Ben if he realized how lucky he was to have so many dogs to play with. Ben's reply took me by surprise. He stood up, looked me in the eye, and matter-of-factly stated he had his own dog. Ben didn't see his grandma's puppies as a blessing. He had no idea how uncommon it was for a little boy to have a lifetime of access to a multitude of adorable new puppies. But he was satisfied with what he had.

Ben's declaration holds intriguing connotations. Our heavenly Father takes great delight in lavishing blessings upon each one of us. Oftentimes, these gracious gifts become so familiar to us that they are overlooked and underappreciated, even if it appears to others that we have been richly blessed. Sometimes, we fail to see our ordinary circumstances, environments, and loved ones as blessings that God liberally bestows on us, until He opens our eyes to them. Since the size, amount, and type of blessing is in the eye of the beholder, we are admonished to be thankful and satisfied with whatever blessing we recognize. Ultimately, as long as we have a relationship with God, we are blessed and have all we'll ever need. That is His ultimate desire for each of us.

Prayer: Loving Father, we come to You as little children. Thank You for granting us unlimited access to You through prayer. With grateful hearts, we receive and thank You for the abundant blessings You have so generously given us. Forgive us when we take Your gifts for granted. Open our eyes that we might see how richly we have been blessed. Open our hearts that we might share our blessings with others. And as we journey through life, may we find our contentment and be fully satisfied in Jesus. Amen.

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