Katrick: Blessings on blessings
Have you ever met someone for the first time, then a couple of weeks later, weren’t sure it was that same someone, when you saw him or her again? That happened to me a few months ago.
I’m serving a wonderful church, part-time as their pastor, and am still getting to know names and faces. When I went to visit a member in the hospital, someone who looked a lot like him was being transported in a wheelchair.
Sure enough, when I got to his room, he wasn’t there. The gentleman’s nurse confirmed that it was indeed, him I’d passed in the hallway. And he was being moved to another facility for rehab.
While he got settled into his new place, I had time on my hands. So I went to an old familiar place, a Subway, for a late lunch. It was there, I attempted to put to use, one of the gift cards received upon my retirement from full-time ministry.
But when I slid my card in the machine, it didn’t work. I slid it a second time, and still no luck. The manager then said, “No worries. Enjoy your lunch!”
A short time later, she realized that a power failure had caused the malfunction. The machine was now working. Once again, I offered to pay. And once again, this kind and patient employee reassured me that it was okay.
By now you may be wondering if this is one of those “grateful” columns. And you are correct and most insightful. It’s not only a column about blessings (like gift cards) but blessings on top of them (like free lunches).
This made me think of the lyrics to a hymn by Daniel Webster Whittle and James McGranahan.
There shall be showers of blessing: This is the promise of love; There shall be showers refreshing, Sent from the Savior above. Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need: Mercy-drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.
Though I didn’t plead for these blessings – a new church to serve, a member to visit and pray with, and a free lunch paid for twice over, I gladly accepted all of these gifts sent by my Savior above. They feel every bit as refreshing and renewing as a passing shower on a hot, summer day.
So how does a person properly respond to this kind of generosity that can only be described as “Divine”? By simply saying, “Thank you, Jesus!” again and again. And by returning the favor to others who could use some of those mercy-drops, the same number of times as you have been blessed, plus one more time for good measure!
Mark Katrick is a pastor and spiritual director.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Katrick: Blessings on blessings
