Blessed Beyond Measure
I have a friend who is a great example of what it means to live life abundantly. Anytime someone asks her how she is doing, her response is, “I’m blessed, blessed beyond measure.”
With that response you would think she lived a charmed life. You wouldn’t know her daughter was just diagnosed with MS, a crippling disease that will eventually take her life. You wouldn’t know her husband, who is 62, just lost his job three years before full retirement. You wouldn’t know all of these things because she believes that the gifts she has been given, even the gift of another day with her daughter, makes her blessed. And because she is blessed, she wants to be a blessing.
To be honest, aren't we suspicious of people who are overly generous? We live in a world that is all about me. What’s in it for me? How will this affect me? In fact, when someone gives of himself or herself unconditionally, how many times do we find ourselves questioning their motives? What are they up to? What’s their agenda? But God never intended us to live this way.
One morning I ran into my Blessed Beyond Measure friend while running errands. I knew this had been a particularly trying week, one that would have given her the right to not feel quite so blessed. I was ready for the “I’m doing OK, or pretty good, or not too bad.” But instead I was told “Cheri, I am so blessed, blessed beyond measure.”
I couldn’t believe it. How can she be so Pollyanna?
Later that morning, I mulled over that question. The term Pollyanna today is used to describe a naïve way of seeing the glass half full, of ignoring the facts, and of not being honest with others and ourselves. If I were to be honest with myself, that is the way I saw my friend. How could she be so unwilling to admit she had been dealt some bad cards? Why was she being so Pollyanna?
I remembered the movie that morning as I pulled out my cleaning supplies. You remember the movie, don’t you? Haylee Mills starred as the orphaned daughter of missionaries. She goes to live with her bitter Aunt and Pollyanna’s infectious habit of turning everything into something to be grateful for soon transforms the grumpy staff and her crotchety Aunt. Eventually the whole town is forever changed by Pollyanna’s way of seeing life.
One time, Pollyanna asked for a doll for Christmas, but instead of a doll …she got a pair of crutches. Rather than be upset, Pollyanna’s response was to decide she would be grateful she didn’t need the crutches.
While cleaning that day, I decided to give Pollyanna’s game a try. Instead of grumbling about the piles of laundry I had to do that day, I decided to be grateful I had a washing machine. When I noticed the words spelled in the dust layering my coffee table, I decided to be grateful I had a family and didn’t live alone. As I played this game, my attitude changed.
From time to time, we all need a little attitude adjustment. However, when a bad attitude—a down-right negative one—becomes our habit, we need a mind overhaul. Perhaps this year’s struggles have created a bad attitude in you? Let’s get a mind overhaul.
This week as we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are reminded that thankfulness is a choice. It is interesting to note that the word “thankful“ comes from the same Latin root meaning “to think.“ Likewise, the word “attitude“ means a position or manner indicating a feeling, opinion, or intention toward someone or something—a stand, pose, posture, or belief.
Thankfulness is thus a posture of the mind. To change that posture requires that we choose our thoughts and words carefully. For what we think and say is what we become. So, let’s practice…how are you doing today? All together now…”I–am–blessed–beyond–measure.”
Play the Pollyanna Game—what can you turn into a reason for gratitude instead of grumbling?
What Scriptures or Hymns can you hum or sing when you need a mind overhaul?
What will you say the next time someone asks how you are doing? If not “Blessed, blessed beyond measure”, try simply saying, “I’m blessed.” Then wait for your own attitude adjustment.