We continue to reflect on the blessings in our lives and on being blessings in others’ lives after our #Blessed Worship Service on November 5th and in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
For all who were unable to attend the #Blessed service or would like to further reflect on what they heard there, below are moving reflections written by students Brenda Mapel and Gregory Chambers, respectively. Take the opportunity to reflect on their words and on blessing, privilege, gratitude, and the mission that comes with our blessings.
A Reflection of Gratitude
Brenda Mapel
These are the things I know to be true:
I am thankful for my family,
I am grateful for my health,
I am blessed because of my education,
And I am appreciative of my freedom.
I am thankful that I grew up in a loving home
with parents who are supportive and nurturing.
I am thankful that I grew up in a safe home
with a warm bed to sleep in at night and a lock on the door that keeps me safe.
I am grateful that when I do get sick
there are caregivers for me and medicine I can easily obtain.
I am grateful that I was born healthy
with a well functioning body.
I am blessed because my education was seen as a priority
and that when I went to school I was safe.
I am blessed because I can pursue a higher degree
that will give me the opportunities that those before me never had.
I am appreciative of the freedom that was given to me
so that I may safely speak my mind.
I am appreciative of those who have gone before me and died
so that I may live a life without worry.
I am privileged because my race offers me social advantages,
I am privileged because of my socioeconomic status,
I am privileged because I was born in this country,
and I am privileged because my religion is associated with the social norm.
All of the things I have listed above
I did not earn.
They were given to me by chance
and at the expense of others.
Proverbs 31:8-9 reads:
Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Because I have the privilege to freely speak
I will use my voice for the voiceless.
Because I have the privilege to seek an education
I will use my knowledge to empower others.
Because I am blessed by things out of my control
I will go and be a blessing to others.
#Blessed
Gregory Chambers
Have you ever asked yourself, ‘What does it mean to be blessed?” You may or may not have. Yet, I am sure that most of us would say that we are blessed, but when asked to pinpoint the source of this blessing most of us would not be able to choose just one source. I would venture to say that if asked where our source of blessing comes from, most of would say family, friends, or a TCU “Go Frogs,” but would we also say that are biggest source of all blessings come from God?
We are blessed beyond belief; we are continually reminded of all the good things around us. We go to the best school in the world, we have the best professors on the face of the earth, are friends are the best ever; we are going to beat K-State on Saturday in the best game ever!!!!! #Blessed. We truly are blessed, we have so much good to look at around us that we are forgetting the reason we are #Blessed.
The reason that we are blessed is not of our own doing. The reason we are blessed is because of God’s doing in our lives. God is amazing, he really is!!!!! He brought the world into existence with a single word, He led his people into the Promised Land even though they constantly disobeyed him, He formed each and every one of us in his image!! And He loves us so much, so much that He sent his one and only son to die on the cross to forgive our sins so that we may have eternal life. We are truly blessed, that our God loves us so much that He would sacrifice whatever it takes for us to believe in Him.
How can we ever repay God for everything that He does for us? The answer is that we can’t, but there are things that God wants us to do for Him so that His Love can be seen by all. First, He wants us to trust Him no matter what. Yes, there are time in our lives when the road is tough; the road can be filled with twists and turns, mountains to climb and valleys to cross but God says that when we believe in Him, He will renew our strength and we will run but not grow weary. God will never leave us, He will never push past what we can handle, and when we trust in Him we can move mountains. Second, God wants us to share His love that He has for us. He wants us to be the city on the hill, and a shining light for all people; no matter who they or where they come from He wants them to see His LOVE!!! We need to strive to live our lives in a way that reflects this love to others. We need to strive to be examples to the world; examples of peace, examples of hope for a better tomorrow, and examples of God’s Love. Finally God wants us to glorify Him!! In everything you do, put God first, not yourself, put God first and give Him all the glory. He has earned it!! Without God’s work and his doings we would not be here today, we would not be free to say we are #Blessed. Truly God deserves all the credit and all the glory.
We are truly blessed to live in a country where we are free to worship and glorify our God. As we leave this place of worship and thanksgiving let us remember the sacrifice that God made when He sent His son to die on the cross for us. It is because of this sacrifice that we are #Blessed. I encourage you, when you leave this place to take time and reflect on the impact that God has made in your life. Then I guarantee you, you will see that you are truly #Blessed, and I encourage you to share the message so that you may be a blessing to others.
Do you have a story or reflection you’d like to share with the greater TCU community? Email z.a.murzyn@tcu.edu with your ideas! Happy Thanksgiving!
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