The grandfather who was praying aloud in the midweek prayer service of my first church was one of those special people who seem to always be able to find reasons to be thankful and rise above their difficulties.  During the summer months, he frequently attended our services; the rest of the year he traveled to warmer places looking for opportunities to tell others of his faith. That night I heard him pray,  ???O Lord, bless the pastor, for no one can be a blessing unless he himself is blessed.???

For me, both that prayer and the principle it stated have been unforgettable. This was a loving request for blessings to come my way so I would be able to share them.  He wasn??™t asking the Lord to bless me so that I would feel good or do well for my own benefit, but so I could become a blessing to others.

A woman who was deeply depressed called for help.  This wife and mother felt so down that she thought there was no way out of her dark valley.  Sensing her despair, I dropped to my knees and prayed silently while listening to her sad story.  After she had finished telling me her troubles, I shared some thoughts from the Bible with her, relating them to her situation.

 More counseling followed and her darkness began to depart.  Soon she traded her fears for faith and became active in a church.

But there is more to this story: not content to just bask in her blessings, she began to share them with others who were hurting.  Eventually she started doing volunteer work in an organization dedicated to helping troubled people, some of whom faced problems similar to those she had experienced.  And in helping others, she was helped even more.

Author and counselor, Tim LaHaye, says, ???The most rewarding and gratifying experiences in life come in serving people.  This will be emotionally therapeutic.  Depressed people are inclined to spend too much time thinking about themselves.  Serving God by helping people forces you to think about someone other than yourself.

???I am personally convinced that God has oriented the human psyche in such a way that unless a man befriends others, he cannot be satisfied with himself.  The rewards of such service are not only beneficial for eternity, but also helpful in this life.???

So in giving we gain.

In blessing others we are blessed.

Those nearest you should be the first beneficiaries of your new outlook on life.  If you have been critical, bitter or cold at home, this will be the perfect place to demonstrate you??™re different.

Become the encourager in your family.  Be as quick to give thanks as you once were to complain.  Seize opportunities to express love.

Your church should also feel the positive impact of the new you.

If you have been the divider in the congregation, become known as a positive peacemaker.  If you have been the hold-back on new projects, cultivate a reputation for courage to move forward in faith.

Your blessings will multiply as you discover ways to pass them on.

?© 2004 Roger Campbell