49 Candles

Countdown to 49. Four days left, including this one. Thinking about how lucky I am to be blessed with parents who have always cared for me with the greatest of love, a husband whose life's mission is to see me happy and without want and a pack of people I call family and friends. Greater still is the miracle of grace that has been extended to me personally by my Father in heaven through His son Jesus, my Savior. I lack nothing.

So what shall I wish for this 49th year?

To be a blessing.

All the goodness I have found in this life comes from God. It does not come from having things or enjoying pleasant circumstances. It comes from having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Experiencing blessing comes from clinging to the Lord. By the feeding of His Word. Through prayer and petition. "Thank you!" and "Help me!" Singer, Jason Gray, calls these, "the two best prayers I know". I want to remain in Jesus when my patience is tested, when my strength is gone, when my blood boils with anger. I want to remain in Jesus when my heart overflows with joy, when my mind is at peace, when all is right with my world. I am persuaded that the LORD will bless me and protect me, as the Bible tells me so (Numbers 6:24). And I want to bring that blessing to people. People I know and love. People I meet for the very first time. People who will continue to cross my path and people with whom I will have the chance to barely share more than a glance.

Blessed to be a blessing. That's what Abram was (Genesis 12:2) and being of the family of God, that is what we are too (Genesis 12:3).

When I blow out the 49 flickers I will be wishing for awareness of where and when and how I can press blessing into the life of another. Every day.

It's exciting, but I know fulfillment of this wish comes with vulnerability and that makes it scary at the very same time. Which reminds me once again of my need for my Savior.