I’m very excited to again this week join a talented group of women who connect each Friday in an online, unedited flash mob free write based on a one-word prompt from our fearless leader Kate Motaung. My timer is set for 5 minutes; let’s see where the word “blessing” takes me.

Did you notice? Did you notice that the word this week is “blessing” and not “blessings”?  I know that “s” may not seem all that significant, but it really is. The addition of the “s” would, of course, made the word plural.

I’m glad we’re not focusing on the plural of the word.

If we were, I know I would probably written about the many people and things I consider to be blessings. It would have been an easy post to write. No doubt about it.

I’d have started with my kids and my friends, moseyed on to my home and job and . . . 

You get the point. A really easy post to write. 

But the word is singular. Blessing.

And now a glib, albeit accurate, listing of the many blessings in my life just won’t do.

Instead, I’m called to ponder two things.

First, do I praise and glorify (Merriam-Webster definition 4) the people in my life? 

Oh, it’s easy to praise and glorify my children. But do I praise and glorify my coworkers, my friends, and others I come into contact with? I do . . . sometimes. But is “sometimes” enough? 

And what about conferring prosperity or happiness (definition 5) on others? 

It’s easy to say I’m not wealthy, so the first one — prosperity — is out. But prosperity doesn’t apply just to money. What about my time and my talents? Do I give both to others on a regular basis?

I’d love to say I always confer happiness on others, but let’s be honest here. I don’t . . . not always. 

Am I a blessing?