One afternoon a couple weeks ago, I was in a language lesson when we got wildly off topic. Somehow we jumped from learning French to talking about relationships and landed on how we treat people. My tutor/friend said “I want to make sure I am a blessing, not a lesson.” I agreed with her and then tried to point us back to the topic at hand. However, as I was walking home that afternoon I couldn’t help but think about what she said.
It is not our job to save people. We do not turn hearts, change minds, or save lives. Only Jesus can do that. Yet, we can be a blessing. My prayer is that when people see me, talk with me, interact with me, they leave feeling encouraged and valued. I want to be a blessing to those I come in contact with because the joy and freedom of Christ radiates from inside of me. Even if the name of Jesus is not spoken in every conversation, His power and blessings should flow. I don’t want to be a warning lesson for those after me to be wary of. I don’t want to be someone who people learn what not to do from. I don’t want to be a lesson learned the hard way. While days might be challenging, weeks may be long, and months can be exhausting, the blessing of Jesus remains. My prayer is that His blessings flow to me, in me, and through me onto the community He has given. Lord, help us to be blessings to those we interact with, not a warning lesson.