I happened on a Gaelic Rune (a poem or saying from way back) that spoke to my heart. Yestreen means “yesterday evening”. Read it carefully.
I saw a stranger yestreen.
I put food in the eating place, in the sacred name of the Triune.
He blessed myself and my house, my cattle and my dear ones.
And the lark said in her song, “Often, often, often, goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise.
Hmm…does Jesus sometimes sneak up on us unexpectedly?
Who in your life has brought you that sort of deep blessing—at the time, or perhaps more in remembrance?
Two people blessed me.
Mrs. Treible taught fifth and sixth grade (4-room schoolhouse)—a good woman and a good teacher. One day, she read Psalm 104, a long one—aloud. Not in the flag-and-Bible, opening-exercises slot. This was totally unexpected. I may have been the only pupil in the room who was paying attention, but that nature psalm caught me up with the birds of the air, the grass of the fields, and the creatures of the wild.
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. (vs 24)
I went home and read the psalm multiple times, rooting it in my heart.
Later, during my teen years,
Lydie, my other woman of blessing, taught me horseback riding and the ability to see and feel nature—birds, flowers, and her “lilies of the field”. She would never win a beauty contest and was a chain smoker, but she knew her Bible, and she knew kids, though she had none of her own. Our hearts opened under her tutelage.
A more difficult question: Have YOU been a blessing to some other person? That’s harder to assess. We can, however, in the Name of the Triune, “put food in the eating place, bless house, cattle, and dear ones” and allow the Christ within us to apply an eternal blessing through us.
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 104:33, 34)
Please tell me your stories, either below or egus@me.com (click to activate)
We can bless each other!
Good morning Ellie,
I read and reread over Psalm 104. It is witness to this beautiful God created earth that sustains us and our love and thankfulness to God for his continuous provision.
My grandparents are the most treasured part of my childhood. They were very influential in my faith and coming to know and love God. It was not by pressure or lecture but by the their example that was not a part of my home. I recognized their goodness and I felt secure and loved in their home as did all of their many grandchildren, family and friends. They were not wealthy but shared everything they had. They took us to church, kept our family close, and built a camp that we were all welcome to come to. They were such a blessing to me and so many. Their faith and love for God is evident and continues through us with our thankfulness.
I love you too Ellie !
Sherry D.
Hey Ellie,
I have been blessed by many people who have allowed me to be a part of their lives. Being a nurse (especially while a Hospice nurse), a pastor’s wife, a mother and a grandmother, I have received many expressions of gratitude from those who I have helped and continue to help. I am very thankful that God has many times let me see the fruits of my labor. Obviously, there are many other times when I do not see the fruits, but I will ultimately in the life to come. One thing that is very important and which I know to be true, is that none of what I do comes from me but from my Savior. He has put me exactly where he wants me to be. Honestly, there are times when I do not want to “put food in the eating place”, but I remind myself that what I do I am doing for Jesus, and he will give me the strength to complete the task. And I am so thankful! I love you too, Ellie! I enjoyed reading this blog!
Hi Ellie, finally catching up on your blog. Jesus snuck up on me in the love of a teacher called Sister Catherine Ambrose. I shall forever remember her truly seeing me as a person and individual. She was my sixth grade teacher. May God Bless her.