What is a blessing anyway? 

I have no idea how many times I’ve responded to someone’s sneeze or someone has told me after I’ve sneezed with either “bless you” or “gesundheit.” 

However, the number probably ranges in at least the thousands if not millions.  I’ve said a variation on that blessing more than I can count even after learning the history of why many of our ancestors started saying it.  Our soul matters children’s packet reminded me that back “around 590 c.e. Pope Gregory the Great believed that a sneeze was an early warning sign of plague, so he commanded Christians to respond to a sneeze with a blessing.” 

To wish someone the blessing of good health while they might be on the verge of not having it is one way we think of blessing. 

Blessing has other ways and meanings that we can explore this month.

We bless our flowers during our flower ceremony.  

We bless the water we bring for water communion.  

Last month the kids attending re hangout made breath blessings for Rev Sandra to take with her when she retires and leaves for a while.  We thought of all the good things we wished for her.  We let our breath in and out as we drew the shape of breath on special paper.  

What are other ways you’ve heard blessings?  Have you gone to a child dedication?  Have you heard or given words of thanks before you eat?  Have you ever told someone or have you ever heard someone say to you that “You are a blessing.”  

All of these ways of blessing are ways to take a moment to pause, to give time or give something to be grateful for special moments of all sizes and shapes. 

“Many see life’s gifts as blessings from God.  Our faith uses the idea of blessing to refer to something good, something that feels like a gift. Celebrating blessings means remembering with gratitude all the good things in our lives.” – Soul Matters 

In all times but especially in hard times, it’s important to count our blessings.  You. Yes I mean you.  Each and every one of you is a blessing to this community of faith.  

Have you celebrated the blessing of this day today? 

With goodness,

With gratitude,

With blessings,

Your director of religious education,

Ebee Bromley