tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post6975032869017675383..comments2023-04-06T10:35:16.802-04:00Comments on The Beautiful Matters: Why I am not #blessedDeborah Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04366855994841922862noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-20111512846964930962017-04-15T11:26:32.914-04:002017-04-15T11:26:32.914-04:00This really spoke to my heart, Deborah, as so oft...This really spoke to my heart, Deborah, as so often through the years, I have felt very "un-blessed"---cursed really---by those who say "I am so blessed." You see, after my second child, I was hit with mysterious fertility issues. They were never resolved, and no matter how hard I prayed, I was never given another child (even an adoption fell through). At that time, we were at a "large quiver" church, with women bearing 8, 9, 10, or more children. Every time they announced their pregnancy, it was with, "We are so blessed by God." <br /><br />There I was longing for another baby---praying for one---and yet not receiving one. By being continually reminded that they were "blessed" with a child, I was reminded that I was not. I felt un-blessed. In fact, I felt cursed and was often told that I must be under a curse, because "God always gives lots of children to those who trust him with the size of their family."<br /><br />Anyhow, very wise words you share.<br /><br />Hugs,<br />PattiPattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948766889057998160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-77335983031136894122017-04-13T11:38:20.272-04:002017-04-13T11:38:20.272-04:00Great. Great. R's Ruehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05711563217099699047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-29979090480547540962017-04-13T06:50:24.134-04:002017-04-13T06:50:24.134-04:00Hello Deborah, I am visiting from the Enchanting R...Hello Deborah, I am visiting from the Enchanting Rose blog. I totally agree with you about #blessed. My daughter and I had a similar discussion around Thanksgiving last year. She was expressing her dislike of people always using "grateful" because she felt it was putting the emphasis on man rather than God, whereas "thankful" was totally expressing our dependence on God. I know I have used "blessed" and "grateful" a lot in the past, but I've made a conscience effort since to use "thankful". <br /><br />You have a lovely blog and I've enjoyed my time here.Diannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15916346102440260126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-15191353351630149042017-04-12T17:27:53.253-04:002017-04-12T17:27:53.253-04:00I don't use hashtags yet but "blessed&quo...I don't use hashtags yet but "blessed" seems wrong. We could be fortunate but good fortune does not indicate God's favour. Madame Là-bashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703782237948233124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-57614813893942960052017-04-11T22:03:06.496-04:002017-04-11T22:03:06.496-04:00I've never hashtagged anything, as you know I ...I've never hashtagged anything, as you know I keep my media to blogging, ebay and email.<br /><br />It makes sense, very interesting thoughts here. <br /><br />xxoo<br /><br />Michele M./ Finch Resthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08971943265328093734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-50017101998277914432017-04-11T19:53:19.453-04:002017-04-11T19:53:19.453-04:00I agree. Good post!
Mary LouI agree. Good post!<br />Mary Loumarmieluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817734359694394738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-61149653812823005592017-04-11T18:42:19.480-04:002017-04-11T18:42:19.480-04:00Hi Deborah, such a though-provoking post. I'm ...Hi Deborah, such a though-provoking post. I'm not part of the hashtag world but your whole premise here is so sound, now that I think about it. I do love the word blessed and blessing because they are so tied, in my mind, with God's grace and mercy. But your post is a needed reminder to be sensitive to others and how words we say or use can hurt or plain ole be bragging.<br /><br />One odd thing, in some of my old magazines from the 1930s I've come across several times when an elderly person would utter "My blessed!" as sort of a mark of surprise, kind of like saying "My goodness!" Interesting, isn't it?Dewenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07330797553600987145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-20625887688913567822017-04-11T12:27:55.449-04:002017-04-11T12:27:55.449-04:00Keeping it short , let me say that I totally agree...Keeping it short , let me say that I totally agree with you !MaryLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17821172137607474528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-27434617318348490452017-04-10T21:31:16.507-04:002017-04-10T21:31:16.507-04:00I think you have a real point here, Deborah, and w...I think you have a real point here, Deborah, and we should be sensitive about how we express things to others. It's always, always appropriate to say that we are thankful, isn't it? Good point.M.K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09205619221345704689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-30580272798175263422017-04-10T13:01:33.505-04:002017-04-10T13:01:33.505-04:00Hello, I did read this post last night, but I coul...Hello, I did read this post last night, but I could not comment as I had no words left!<br />But I did want to say well done Deborah!!<br />We use this word like it is magical quote! God is good even when life is tough and we don't understand what is happening to us! We are blessed just to have breath!!<br />But if we would give THANKS more often and pray for so many that are struggling it would be better for all of us! I was told once that if we would just verbly say we were blessed it would be so...<br />Thanks for the thought provoking post, you have a way of doing that :o)<br />Always, Roxyliving from glory to gloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123718369605106023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-36127119303817486892017-04-09T23:08:20.901-04:002017-04-09T23:08:20.901-04:00Like Stephanie said so well, I have never used a h...Like Stephanie said so well, I have never used a hashtag, because I'm not on those social media platforms, but I can see where you have mentioned it being a problem, a means of bragging for sure. I agree with you, being thankful is a far better way to express your gratitude for a happy moment, rather than using it as a way to somehow impress others that you are more blessed than they. Marilyn @ MountainTopSpicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513002892026085156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-26818149962954200092017-04-09T13:19:44.525-04:002017-04-09T13:19:44.525-04:00I never would have given this a second thought, as...I never would have given this a second thought, as I don't usually use hashtags. However, I completely am with you on this one. In fact, just yesterday we were talking to some great people in our parish. Well, they have two sets of twin boys. The older two go to a private boys school and the two younger are home schooled. So as the conversation goes, they tell us that a good friend of theirs invited them to their summer home. They will be flying with a private jet to Florida and spend a week at this fabulous home, all six of them. Then the mom proceeded to tell me that this "friend" has completely covered tuition for all fours years of high school for the two older boys. Plus, when the two younger ones go to the same school, they too will have all four years paid for them!! She kept saying how blessed they are to have this friend and how generous he has been all along, etc. etc.<br />My heart dropped to my stomach, because you see, my oldest granddaughter who is in 7th grade, wants to go to a private girls school, but its looking grim, because her three siblings are also going to Catholic grade school right now, and the tuition for boths schools will be over $20,000 for one year! My daughter and son in law have good jobs, but no way could they afford this tuition, plus books, plus uniforms.etc.. I walked away from the conversation, wondering why my grandkids could not be blessed in the same way. <br />Your post really opened my eyes about saying "blessed" so flippantly from now on! thanks for this posting, DeborahGinnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10576022783071536981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-8229112770634989352017-04-09T09:30:41.547-04:002017-04-09T09:30:41.547-04:00Another astute observation, Deborah! Mark Zuckerbe...Another astute observation, Deborah! Mark Zuckerberg should have called Facebook "Bragbook". HA!Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12216292186501923706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-833962162611268912017-04-09T06:04:37.165-04:002017-04-09T06:04:37.165-04:00In my case ignorance is bliss...I don't unders...In my case ignorance is bliss...I don't understand hashtags (thought it was a pound symbol), don't twitter (although occasionally rant) and thought the reason we were blessed (generally, everyone who has the $$$ to be on the internet) is to be a blessing. <br />Right now I'm feeling blessed because I, finally!, have HEAT (Just in time for Spring...sigh.) and last night slept in MY OWN BED (it's been three months and the dogs weren't happy about the change...again.)<br />It's okay to share my joy...grin.Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07701035005375401061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-82966142774634073892017-04-09T00:53:51.714-04:002017-04-09T00:53:51.714-04:00I'm not on Twitter, so I was unaware of the ha...I'm not on Twitter, so I was unaware of the hashtag. But I agree with you 100% on the use of blessed. I dislike it when people say we are so blessed with affluence. Sometimes I think affluence is something that drives us further away from the Lord than closer to Him. We can be thankful, and recognize that people who may not have what we have still have access to God's blessings as much as we do.<br />The "blessing" comment about children is close to my heart. In the last couple of years, our daughter has had four little heartbeats gathered to Jesus' arms. It's so very hard to see her and her husband suffer. I ache, too, as I think about those little ones waiting for us in heaven. <br />Thank you for this post, Deborah.Lorriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653026442945027184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-85800404291331419582017-04-09T00:39:07.550-04:002017-04-09T00:39:07.550-04:00Dearest Deborah,
Neither am I blessed... Like Mari...Dearest Deborah,<br />Neither am I blessed... Like Marie-Thérèse, I too was so unaware of this 'hype'.<br />It often is annoying how the English language is being abused and mutilated. <br />More and more it looks like people have no inkling about the true meaning of a certain word and how to use it appropriately. <br />And it also shows how stupid the one person is copy-catting the other. They all want to look cool and be popular and not realizing how stupid it makes them look.<br />Words should never be used out of context and worse, like a fashion fad. The 'IN' word for now is...<br />Language is not meant to be abused like that!<br />Great subject and I too googled it and it was an eye-opener.<br />Hugs and happy Sunday.<br />MarietteMariette VandenMunckhof-Vedderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877699174880945452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-70620591314623828142017-04-08T22:31:35.723-04:002017-04-08T22:31:35.723-04:00I had never heard of the #blessed thing before. I ...I had never heard of the #blessed thing before. I guess because I don't have Twitter or Facebook. I never thought about the implications of saying "I'm blessed " and how the way it may affect the person I'm talking to. Your post made alot of sense and you are not being cranky.😊Reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06188723188448901080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-63459018808394558952017-04-08T22:28:10.904-04:002017-04-08T22:28:10.904-04:00I must confess that I am with Marie and totally ou...I must confess that I am with Marie and totally out of the loop on this one simply because I am not on Twitter or Instagram so I never use hashtags :)<br /><br />But you, my dear friend, are spot on! I completely agree with what you're saying and I appreciate your honesty and willingness to share. I love what Miss Dishywoo said, "Deborah, this is another post where the beauty and sensitivity of your heart is showing." Amen!<br /><br />Hugs and love to you!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389136708128457239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-85733676515787379322017-04-08T19:55:36.118-04:002017-04-08T19:55:36.118-04:00When I took a social media course at the library l...When I took a social media course at the library last year we discussed hashtags because I found them baffling. Since I have a blog I understood them to be like the labels we use and the instructor agreed that I had made the right connection. I assign one or two labels to each post and do the same for FB and IG, they can be referenced when looking for something.<br />I agree that using #blessed would imply bragging, and #grateful would be a more humble way to express one's feelings. Judith @ Lavender Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16361061491506137380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-52892536804664655442017-04-08T00:58:30.194-04:002017-04-08T00:58:30.194-04:00Deborah, I am blessed to have read this powerful p...Deborah, <em>I</em> am blessed to have read this powerful post today to remind me I can't help to bring souls to God by swagger and gushing. It is quiet gentleness of humility that wins people over to God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-5372219991612502612017-04-07T23:58:53.177-04:002017-04-07T23:58:53.177-04:00So true... it has become pretty overused, abused a...So true... it has become pretty overused, abused and misused. Well said!<br />Ruth Antiques And Teacupshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00353180034537009493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-51329927663377329142017-04-07T22:50:29.465-04:002017-04-07T22:50:29.465-04:00Deborah, this is another post where the beauty and...Deborah, this is another post where the beauty and sensitivity of your heart is showing. And, another post that says what others may have thought but not been able to put into words; myself being one of them. I have occasionally wondered why it felt slightly offensive to hear someone stating how blessed they are. Now I think I understand that it was because there didn't seem to be any true gratefulness to the Lord, but more of a boasting going on. I do believe that some people honestly are trying to acknowledge their thankfulness, but more often it smacks of insincerity and is used in a flippant manner. Thank you for this post that will help me remember to choose my words carefully.Miss Dishywoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794780623279029363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-70496860565302925932017-04-07T20:24:55.193-04:002017-04-07T20:24:55.193-04:00Although you can find me using a hashtag every now...Although you can find me using a hashtag every now and then, I do it mostly as an attempt to add a witty ending to a facebook or instagram post...in fact, I just used one tonight when I posted a pic of my supper on instagram...#italianchickensausage and #spaghettisquash...lol! I don't know their purpose at all! I can't say that I have used #blessed and I guess I didn't realize it was thing. I have heard it in conversations though and sometimes I think people say it as easy as they breathe. I heard Joyce Meyer speak about this before but she didn't refer to the hashtag...just saying how if we're not careful, we can sometimes offend when we really don't mean to. Your post is so right...we should never take our blessings for granted! This was quite eye-opening, Deborah...great post.Debby Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02499542865677173703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-26881719880574610722017-04-07T16:24:01.221-04:002017-04-07T16:24:01.221-04:00And I have to agree with you. I try to avoid that...And I have to agree with you. I try to avoid that phrase at all costs. I too prefer to use the term 'grateful'.Lauren at Wonderfully Madehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04829093571706318778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092223141967556234.post-25398989697396309202017-04-07T16:15:07.850-04:002017-04-07T16:15:07.850-04:00I must be in the dark because I have never seen it...I must be in the dark because I have never seen it used as a bragging feature. I think it is indeed inappropriate to use for material things (trips, scholarships, new house)etc. But, I think in the state of health it is perfectly fine. I am a stroke survivor and I often say I am blessed because I survived! Or, where I live people say "have a blessed day" because they are bestowing blessings on you. JMHOSugar Lump Studioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378508367016717859noreply@blogger.com