On Purpose

READY… “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT

AIM… I decided a few months ago that I was going to do something amazing for my 40th birthday. Yes, I enjoyed a few modest celebrations with close friends and family members. However, instead of focusing on receiving birthday wishes, I decided to bless someone ON PURPOSE for the forty days leading up to my 40th birthday. I sat down and wrote a list (because I can’t operate without my list) of forty different ideas on how I could bless others and make them feel extra special. Little did I know how incredibly blessed I would feel and what wonderful things would happen to me as a result of my blessings on purpose.

Many of you have inquired about what kind of things I was doing to bless others so you too could have different ideas to incorporate into your lives. The following is a sampling of the things I did throughout those forty days: I mailed several cards with encouraging messages, bought Starbucks coffee treats and breakfast or lunch for friends, counseled and prayed with troubled friends, made chocolate covered pretzels for my neighbors and cupcakes for my husband’s employees, paid for coffee for the person in the car behind me, took a bubble bath with my daughter, had a date night with my husband, took my son out to lunch, sent flowers to a friend, French braided hair for two young girls’ dance recital, sent a pizza dinner to a friend, gave away a few inspiring gifts and books, took lunch to my mom and dad, gave away a gazillion hugs, sang at church, gave appreciation baskets to my bank tellers, school secretaries and my AOI editor, paid for the grocery order of the lady behind me who forgot her wallet...and many other amazing things. As you can tell, some of these opportunities were planned and some were created by God. In return, I have felt so full of life and haven't been happier in ages. God has truly blessed me and my family so we can bless others. I dare you to try it, even for one day. You will be amazed at how great you feel and how wonderful you make others feel in the process.

FIRE! Choose to bless two people ON PURPOSE this week: someone you know and a random stranger. Use one of the ideas above or create something on your own. Honestly, you will feel fantastic and so will the person receiving your blessing.

Be Excellent!
Lori