Especially in the holiday season, but throughout the year, we have to be conscious of what truly has value in our lives. If you believe the hype of commercials, ads, etc. you might believe that your joy is determined by the amount of gifts you get, that you are not really loved unless “he chose Jared” and that you deserve that new car, whether you can afford it or not.
Presents are great–I like presents. But what is really valuable to give and receive? BLESSING. That is the best thing I can give to strangers and to friends. When I think about where I am going to spend my time, and with who, I often think about what is going to bless the most. This isn’t a heavy, heady exercise. Just following intuition about where I need to be, when.
I think prayer is a wonderful exercise, practiced in many spiritual traditions. My only concern is that it can tend to be limited to asking someone/something else to bless us and the people in our lives. Though there is value to asking for help, we also have to realize that we have the power to help and uplift. We are the blessing, and we are blessed as we offer it. Let prayer be a form of empowerment, reminding us of our connection to an eternal source of love and power.
So as we approach the holidays, consider where you want to offer a blessing in your life. Who has had a difficult time this year and needs to be inspired? What kind word could make a difference? Where could your dollars offer the most upliftment? Is there a blessing you’ve been waiting for that you could offer someone else?
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‘Let prayer be a form of empowerment, reminding us of our connection to an eternal source of love and power.’
Wonderful! It really is easy to forget just how vast God’s resources really are… and how empowering it is just to accept them.